Interactive transaction center interface

ABSTRACT

A transaction module having a summary interface is provided as part of a software suite for enabling viewing and manipulation of multiple categories of aggregated data compiled from a plurality of data sources and accessible through a single interfacing node operated on a data-packet-network. The transaction module comprises, an interactive main interface accessible through the summary interface, the main interface for listing new transactions related to registered financial accounts, an interactive history link embedded in the main interface for providing access to a secondary interface for viewing transaction history, an interactive menu provided within the main interface for assigning categories to the listed transactions, an interactive save feature for saving category assignments to the listed transactions; a interactive bill-payment link provided within the main interface for linking the interface to a bill-payment module and an interactive transfer-funds link provided within the summary interface of the module for linking the summary face of the module to a secondary interface for transferring funds from one account to another. A user operating the main interface from a remote node having access to the data-packet-network may view all transactions according to option of category, account, and time period.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS

[0001] The present invention is a continuation in part (CIP) to patentapplication Ser. No. 09/698,708 entitled “Interactive Activity Interfacefor Managing Personal Data and Performing Transactions Over a DataPacket Network” filed on Oct. 27, 2000, which is a CIP to patentapplication Ser. No. 09/425,626 entitled “Method and Apparatus forProviding Calculated and Solution-Oriented Personalized Summary-Reportsto a User through a Single User-Interface” filed on Oct. 22, 1999, whichis a CIP to a patent application Ser. No. 09/323,598 entitled “Methodand Apparatus for Obtaining and Presenting WEB Summaries to Users ”filed on Jun. 1, 1999, which is a CIP to patent application Ser. No.09/208,740 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Providing and Maintaininga User-Interactive Portal System Accessible via Internet or otherSwitched-Packet-Network” filed on Dec. 8, 1998, disclosures of which areincorporated herein in their entirety by inclusion and reference.

FILED OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is in the field of Internet navigationincluding various communication means and connection technologies. Thepresent invention pertains more particularly to an interactive softwarefunctionality enabling management and transactional control includingcategorized viewing of personal transaction data including account datamaintained on behalf of users by an entity providing data compilation,aggregation, and summary services.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The information network known as the World Wide Web (WWW), whichis a subset of the well-known Internet, is arguably the most completesource of publicly accessible information available. Anyone with asuitable Internet appliance such as a personal computer with a standardInternet connection may access (go on-line) and navigate to informationpages (termed web pages) stored on Internet-connected servers for thepurpose of garnering information and initiating transactions with hostsof such servers and pages.

[0004] Many companies offer various subscription services accessible viathe Internet. For example, many people now do their banking, stocktrading, shopping, and so forth from the comfort of their own homes viaInternet access. Typically, a user, through subscription, has access topersonalized and secure WEB pages for such functions. By typing in auser name and a password or other personal identification code, a usermay obtain information, initiate transactions, buy stock, and accomplisha myriad of other tasks.

[0005] One problem that is encountered by an individual who has severalor many such subscriptions to Internet-brokered services is that thereare invariably many passwords and/or log-in codes to be used. Often asame password or code cannot be used for every service, as the passwordor code may already be taken by another user. A user may not wish tosupply a code unique to the user such as perhaps a social securitynumber because of security issues, including quality of security thatmay vary from service to service. Additionally, many users at their ownvolition may choose different passwords for different sites so as tohave increased security, which in fact also increases the number ofpasswords a user may have.

[0006] Another issue that can plague a user who has many passwordedsubscriptions is the fact that they must bookmark many WEB pages in acomputer cache so that they may quickly find and access the variousservices. For example, in order to reserve and pay for airline travel, auser must connect to the Internet, go to his/her book-marks file andselect an airline page. The user then has to enter a user name andpassword, and follow on-screen instructions once the page is delivered.If the user wishes to purchase tickets from the WEB site, and wishes totransfer funds from an on-line banking service, the user must also lookfor and select the personal bank or account page to initiate a fundstransfer for the tickets. Different user names and passwords may berequired to access these other pages, and things get quite complicated.

[0007] Although this preceding example is merely exemplary, it isgenerally known that much work related to finding WEB pages, logging inwith passwords, and the like is required to successfully do business onthe WEB.

[0008] A service known to the inventor and described in patentapplication Ser. No. 09/208,740 entitled “Method and Apparatus forProviding and Maintaining a User-Interactive Portal System Accessiblevia Internet or other Switched-Packet-Network”, provides a WEB servicethat allows a user to store all of his password protected pages in onelocation such that browsing and garnering information from them is muchsimplified. A feature of the above service allows a user to programcertain tasks into the system such that requested tasks are executed byan agent (software) based on user instruction. The service stores userpassword and log-in information and uses the information to log-in tothe user's sites, thus enabling the user to navigate without having tomanually input log-in or password codes to gain access to the links.

[0009] The above-described service uses a server to present auser-personalized application that may be displayed as an interactivehome page that contains all of his listed sites (hyperlinks) for easynavigation. The application lists the user's URL's in the form ofhyperlinks such that a user may click on a hyperlink and navigate to thepage wherein login, if required, is automatic, and transparent to theuser.

[0010] The application described above also includes a software agentthat may be programmed to perform scheduled tasks for the user includingreturning specific summaries and updates about user-account pages. Asearch function is provided and adapted to cooperate with the softwareagent to search user-entered URL's for specific content if such pagesare cached somewhere in their presentable form such as at the portalserver, or on the client's machine.

[0011] In addition to the features described above, patent applicationSer. No. 09/523,598 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Obtaining andPresenting WEB Summaries to Users” describes a software agent used inconjunction with a search function that is enabled to navigate to anyURL or group of URL's, provided as input by a user or otherwise deemedappropriate by the service provider, for the purpose of providingsummary information regarding updated content for each URL, which may bepresented as an HTML information-page to the user.

[0012] The above described service uses known site logic for navigatingto specific “chunks” of data contained in Web pages at the site. Logicscripts are prepared by knowledge workers operating on behalf of users.With such scripts, gatherer agents may navigate directly to dataportions that users are interested in.

[0013] Users who subscribe to many on-line services generally do all oftheir banking, investing, travel arranging, shopping, and so on whileon-line with the Internet. Having all of his or her services availableat one portal provides a convenience to a user in not having to remembera plurality of passwords, or to be required to physically log-on to eachsite. Similarly, the ability to obtain summary data associated withselected sites through one interface allows a user to greatly speed anydecision making process related to his or her on-line activity. However,summary information may not help a user with certain other concerns. Forexample, obtaining accurate financial information concerning his entireportfolio of banking and investments would require much user calculationdepending on the exact nature of the result desired. Similarly compilinga trend that reflects a user's on-line activity at a plurality ofshopping services may also require considerable calculation to beperformed by a user. Summary data presented in the above methods isgeneral in nature and reflects such as updates, status of orders, andthe like.

[0014] An Internet-connected portal system, known to the inventor, has adata repository, a data-gathering system, a request processor, aplurality of report algorithms, and a report processor. The requestprocessor receives a request from a user and matches the request to anindividual one of the report algorithms. The data-gathering subsystemaccesses plural Internet sites associated with the user and extracts rawdata therefrom according to needs of the report algorithm. The reportprocessor processes the raw data according to the report algorithm intometa-summarized information defined by the report algorithm, and theportal system transmits the meta-summarized information as a report to adestination associated with the report request. In some cases there isan aggregated-data database in the data repository storing aggregateddata retrieved for specific users periodically, and the requestprocessor checks the aggregated-data database for needed data beforerequiring the data-gathering system to retrieve data from the associatedInternet sites. In the instance that the needed data is stored in theaggregated-data database, the report is prepared from the aggregateddata. Reports may be presented in a form such as to include text andgraphic formats.

[0015] In view of various functional enhancements including the abilityto provide calculative and solution-oriented reporting, it has occurredto the inventor that a single interface, through which summary anddetailed data may be viewed and manipulated must be provided that isuser-friendly, compact and interlinked in terms of request-to-resultfunctionality wherein access and request actions may be performed byworking within any category or department of data that may be availableto be viewed through the interface. Current and prior-art interactiveinterface software used with typical data presentation services lacksthe flexibility of providing multiple points of intractability withinthe interface as well as enabling cross-solution implementation acrossmultiple categories of data viewable through the interface.

[0016] The above challenges exist with prior-art services in partbecause they lack much of the interactive capability required in orderto enable a fully functional data interface, especially one thatinterfaces a user with a wide range of disparate data categories.

[0017] A software suite known to the inventor for enabling viewing andmanipulation of multiple categories of aggregated data compiled from aplurality of data sources and accessible through a single interfaceoperated on a data-packet-network is provided. The data sources areavailable for direct network-access through multiple access pointsavailable from within the interface. The software suite comprises, acalendar module having at least one display interface for enablingviewing and manipulation of time and date-sensitive calendar data, atransaction module having at least one display interface for enablingviewing and manipulation of financially oriented account data, aportfolio tracking module having at least one display interface forenabling viewing and manipulation of investment oriented account data, anet-worth reporting module having at least one display interface fordisplaying a solution-oriented net-worth report compiled from theaggregated, a bill-payment module having at least one display interfacefor enabling viewing and initiation of payment action regarding currentbilling data and an account-alert module having at least one displayinterface for reporting time and event sensitive account alerts relatedto changes in account data due to occurring events or pre-configuredtime parameters.

[0018] A user operating a remote node connected to the network of aserver hosting the software suite may view and manage personal data. Inpreferred embodiments, the data requests received at the server from theuser regarding data management and manipulation are performed by proxywhen such requests require navigation and/or solution orientedcalculations and presentations. In this specification further novelfunctions related to the transaction management and categorized viewingcapabilities of the transaction module described above are taught inenabling detail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a transactionmodule having a displayable summary interface is provided as part of asoftware suite for enabling viewing and manipulation of multiplecategories of aggregated data compiled from a plurality of data sourcesand accessible through a single interfacing node operated on adata-packet-network. The transaction module comprises, an interactivemain interface accessible through the summary interface, the maininterface for listing new transactions related to registered financialaccounts, an interactive history link embedded in the main interface forproviding access to a secondary interface for viewing transactionhistory, an interactive menu provided within the main interface forassigning categories to the listed transactions, an interactive savefeature for saving category assignments to the listed transactions, aninteractive bill-payment link provided within the main interface forlinking the interface to a bill-payment module and an interactivetransfer-funds link provided within the summary interface of the modulefor linking the summary face of the module to a secondary interface fortransferring funds from one account to another.

[0020] A user operating the main interface from a remote node havingaccess to the data-packet-network may view all transactions according tooption of category, account, and time period.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the transaction module is accessedthrough the Internet network. In this aspect, the plurality of datasources are services accessible over the Internet and subscribed to bythe operating user. Also in this aspect, the accessible services arehosted in file servers addressed on the Internet network. In oneembodiment, the above-mentioned remote node is a personal computer withaccessibility to the Internet and the summary, main and secondaryinterfaces are provided in the form of hyper-text-markup-language. Inanother embodiment, the remote node is a cellular telephone withaccessibility to the Internet. In still another embodiment, the remotenode is a hand-held computer with accessibility to the Internet.

[0022] In all aspects, the interactive menu within the main interfacecontains a selectable list of transaction categories including food andbeverage, utilities, home, auto, charitable contribution, andentertainment. In this same aspect, the secondary interface invoked fromthe interactive history link contains a plurality of interactive menus,the menus containing selectable options for categorical viewing oftransaction history. The selectable options enable viewing transactionsby a specific account, a specified timeframe, and by a selectedcategory, the options are selectable for ordering combinations ofcriteria for producing a transaction view.

[0023] In one aspect, the transaction module further comprises acharting feature for rendering a transactional view in the form of agraphics chart. In this aspect, the graphics chart ordered and displayedis alterable by changing selection of options within the plurality ofinteractive menus in the secondary interface and refreshing theinterface.

[0024] In another aspect of the present invention, an interactivetransaction viewing system for enabling online viewing of itemizedtransactions performed across disparate on-line accounts and servicesover a data-packet-network is provided. The interactive viewing systemcomprises, a first server node connected to the network, the server nodeproviding a service-access-point for accessing users, a second servernode connected to the network and accessible to the first server node,the second server node providing automated navigation, data procurement,and data aggregation on behalf of the accessing users, a plurality ofserver nodes connected to the network and accessible to the secondserver node, the server node functioning as data sources for the dataprocurement and aggregation and a transaction viewing software interfaceinstalled on the first server node, the interface accessible to theaccessing users connected to the network by respective remote computernodes.

[0025] Users accessing the first server node from the remote computernodes interact with the transaction-viewing interface for the purpose ofviewing transactions according to ordered category and graphicalpresentation option. The transactions are entered manually or detectedautomatically through system updates and or user requests. Additionally,the transactions are compiled and aggregated by proxy using cooperativefunctions of the first and second server nodes.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the system is implemented on theInternet network. In one aspect, the first server node is a portalserver providing personalized interfaces of the form ofhyper-text-markup-language interfaces. In this aspect, the on-lineaccounts and services are accessible over the Internet and subscribed toby the accessing users. In one embodiment, the remote computer nodes arepersonal computers with accessibility to the Internet. In anotherembodiment, the remote computer nodes are cellular telephones withaccessibility to Internet. In still another embodiment, the remotecomputer nodes are hand-held computers with accessibility to theInternet. In another aspect of the interactive transaction-viewingsystem, the second server node stores aggregated data in a connecteddata repository held externally from the server. In another aspect, thetransaction-viewing software interface is linked to at least onesecondary interface provided in the form of hyper-text-markup-language.In still another aspect, an interactive menu is accessible from withinthe transaction viewing interface, the menu containing a selectable listof transaction categories including food and beverage, utilities, home,auto, charitable contribution, and entertainment, each categoryassignable to a selected transaction listed in the interface, theassignments savable to the system.

[0027] Also in one aspect, a secondary interface accessible frominteraction within the main interface contains a plurality ofinteractive menus, the menus containing selectable options forcategorical viewing of transaction history. The selectable optionsenable viewing transactions by a specific account, a specifiedtimeframe, and by a selected category. Additionally, the options areselectable for ordering combinations of criteria for producing atransaction view, wherein the transaction view comprises an orderedhistory view.

[0028] In another aspect, the transaction-viewing system furthercomprises a charting feature associated with the selectable options. Thecharting feature renders a transactional view in the form of a graphicschart. In this aspect, the graphics chart ordered and displayed isalterable by changing selection of options within the plurality ofinteractive menus in the secondary interface and refreshing theinterface.

[0029] In another aspect of the present invention, a method for orderingand viewing transaction data presented in an interactivetransaction-viewing interface accessible through a data-packet-networkis provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) accessing aninteractive transaction-viewing interface from a remote node connectedto the network, (b) selecting a categorical criteria for viewingtransactions from one or more interactive menus accessible through theinterface, (c) submitting the categorical criteria, the criteria used tocalculate and render the transaction data and (d) viewing the resultingdisplay of transaction data.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the method is practiced on theInternet network. In one aspect of the method in step (a), theinteractive transaction-viewing interface is a personalizedhyper-text-markup-language interface served by a portal server connectedto the network. In another aspect of the method in step (a), the remotenode is a personal computer with accessibility to the network. In stillanother aspect in step (a), the remote node is a cellular telephone withaccessibility to the network. In another aspect, the remote node is ahand-held computer with accessibility to the network. In preferredaspects of the method in step (b), the categorical criteria for viewingtransactions include account, timeframe, and by category including foodand beverage, utilities, home, auto, charitable contribution, andentertainment. Also, in one aspect in step (b), an additional option ispresented for ordering a graphic chart according to the selectedcriteria.

[0031] Now for the first time an interactive transaction-viewing moduleis provided enabling a user to order a multiplicity of transactionalhistory views according to selected criteria wherein all of the optionalviews are attainable through a single interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURES

[0032]FIG. 1 is an overview of an Internet portal system and networkaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033]FIG. 2 is an exemplary plan view of a personalized portal homepage application as it may be seen on a display monitor according to anembodiment of the present invention.

[0034]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating user interaction with theInternet portal of FIG. 1.

[0035]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a summarization softwareagent and capabilities thereof according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0036]FIG. 5 is a logical flow chart illustrating an exemplarysummarization process performed by the software agent of FIG. 4operating in a user-defined mode.

[0037]FIG. 6 is a logical flow chart illustrating an exemplarysummarization process performed by the software agent of FIG. 4 in aUser-independent smart mode with minimum user input.

[0038]FIG. 7 is an overview of a meta-summarization process according toan embodiment of the present invention.

[0039]FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating components and functions ofthe database-reporting engine of FIG. 7 according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0040]FIG. 9 is a process flow diagram illustrating logical user andsystem steps for initialization to completion of a meta-summarizedreport according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041]FIG. 10 is a representative view of an actual screen shot of ameta-summarized report on display in a user's browser interfaceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042]FIG. 11 is an exemplary screen shot of an interactive interfacesuite for enabling multipoint account management capabilities accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043]FIG. 12 is an exemplary screen shot of a secondary interfaceinvoked as a result of user interaction with module 219 of FIG. 11according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044]FIG. 13 is an exemplary screen shot of a secondary interfaceresulting from invocation of transaction center module 221 of FIG. 11according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045]FIG. 14 is an exemplary screen shot of a secondary interfaceresulting from invocation of network module 215 of FIG. 11.

[0046]FIG. 15 is an exemplary screen shot of a portfolio trackerinterface resulting from invocation of portfolio tracker module 227 ofFIG. 11.

[0047]FIG. 16 is an overview of a communications network wherein anInternet portal system is practiced according to an embodiment of thepresent invention

[0048]FIG. 17 is an exemplary screen shot of a personalized interactiveinterface suite including a transaction center module according toembodiment of the present invention.

[0049]FIG. 18 is an exemplary screen shot of the TransactionCenter—Default view of FIG. 13 caused to display through interactionwith View Transactions button 307 of FIG. 17.

[0050]FIG. 19 is an exemplary screen shot of a Transaction Centeraccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051]FIG. 20 is an exemplary screen shot of the transaction center:transaction history/all accounts interface which is accessed by clickingon the transaction history button 319 of FIG. 18 or FIG. 19.

[0052]FIG. 21 is an exemplary view of a screen shot that displaystransaction history/all accounts—by category: YTD.

[0053]FIG. 22 is an exemplary screen shot of a transaction history/bargraph displayed as a result of user interaction with chart it icon 333of FIGS. 20 and 21.

[0054]FIG. 23 is an exemplary screen shot of a transaction history/linegraph interface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0055] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, aunique Internet portal is provided and adapted to provide uniqueservices to users who have obtained access via an Internet or othernetwork connection from an Internet-capable appliance. Such an interfaceprovides users with a method for storing many personal WEB pages andfurther provides search function and certain task-performing functions.The methods and apparatus of the present invention are taught inenabling detail below.

[0056]FIG. 1 is an overview of an Internet portal system 11 and Internetnetwork 13 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Portalsystem 11, in this embodiment, operates as an ISP in addition to aunique network portal, but may, in other embodiments be implemented as astand-alone Internet server. In yet other embodiments the service andapparatus described herein may also be provided by such as a search andlisting service (AltaVista™, Yahoo™) or by any other enterprise hostinga WEB-connected server.

[0057] Internet 13 is representative of a preferred use of the presentinvention, but should not be considered limiting, as the invention couldapply in other networks and combinations of networks.

[0058] ISP 15 in this embodiment comprises a server 31, a modem bank 33,represented here by a single modem, and a mass storage repository 29 forstoring digital data. The modem bank is a convenience, as connection tothe server could be by another type of network link. ISP 15, as istypical in the art, provides Internet access services for individualsubscribers. In addition to well-known Internet access services, ISP 15also provides a unique subscription service as an Internet portal forthe purpose of storing many WEB pages or destinations along with anypasswords and or personal codes associated with those pages, in a mannerdescribed in more detail below. This unique portal service is providedby execution of Portal Software 35, which is termed by the inventors thePassword-All suite. The software of the invention is referred to hereinboth as the Portal Software, and as the Password-all software suite.Also, in much of the description below, the apparatus of the inventionis referred to by the Password-All terminology, such as the Password-AllServer or Password-All Portal.

[0059] ISP 15 is connected to Internet 13 as shown. Other equipmentknown in the art to be present and connected to a network such asInternet 13, for example, IP data routers, data switches, gatewayrouters, and the like, are not illustrated here but may be assumed to bepresent. Access to ISP 15 is through a connection-oriented telephonesystem as is known in the art, or through any other Internet/WEB accessconnection, such as through a cable modem, special network connection(e.g. T1), ISDN, and so forth. Such connection is illustrated via accessline 19 from Internet appliance 17 through modem bank 33.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment a user has access to InternetPassword-All Portal services by a user name and password as is wellknown in the art, which provides an individualized WEB page to thesubscriber. In another embodiment wherein a user has other individualsthat use his or her Internet account, then an additional password orcode unique to the user may be required before access to portal 31 isgranted. Such personalized Portal WEB pages may be stored in repository29, which may be any convenient form of mass storage.

[0061] Three Internet servers 23, 25, and 27, are shown in Internet 13,and represent Internet servers hosted by various enterprises andsubscribed to by a user operating appliance 17. For example, server 23may be a bank server wherein interactive on-line banking and accountmanaging may be performed. Server 25 may be an investment server whereininvestment accounts may be created and managed. Server 27 may be anairline or travel server wherein flights may be booked, tickets may bepurchased, and so on.

[0062] In this example, all three servers are secure servers requiringuser ID and password for access, but the invention is not necessarilylimited to just secure services.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a subscribinguser operating an Internet-capable appliance, such as appliance 17,connects to Password-All Portal system 11 hosted by ISP 15, and therebygains access to a personalized, interactive WEB page, which in turnprovides access to any one of a number of servers on Internet 13 such asservers 23, 25, and 27, without being required to enter additionalpasswords or codes. In a preferred embodiment the software that enablesthis service is termed Password-All by the inventors. Password-All maybe considered to be a software suite executing on the unique server, andin some instances also on the user's station (client). Additionalinteractivity provided by portal software 35 allows a connected user tosearch his listed pages for information associated with keywords, textstrings, or the like, and allows a user to program user-defined tasksinvolving access and interaction with one or more Internet-connectedservers such as servers 23, 25, and 27 according to a pre-defined timeschedule. These functions are taught in enabling detail below.

[0064]FIG. 2 is an illustration of a personalized portal page as may beseen on a display monitor according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, provided by Password-All Portal software 35 executing onserver 31, in response to secure access by a subscriber. Page 32presents an interactive listing 34 of user-subscribed or member WEBpages, identified in this example by URL, but which may also beidentified by any convenient pseudonym, preferably descriptive, alongwith user name and typically encrypted password information for eachpage. Listed in a first column under destination, are exemplarydestinations LBC.com, My Bank.com, My Stocks.com, My shopping.com,Mortgage.com, and Airline.com. These are but a few of many exemplarydestinations that may be present and listed as such on page 33. In orderto view additional listings listed but not immediately viewable fromwithin application 33, a scroll bar 35 is provided and adapted to allowa user to scroll up or down the list to enable viewing as is known inthe art.

[0065] Items listed in list 34 in this example may be considereddestinations on such as servers 23, 25, and 27 of FIG. 1. Typically theURL associated with an item on this list will not take a user to aserver, per se, but to a page stored on a server. User names andpassword data associated with each item in list 34 are illustrated inrespective columns labeled user name, and password, to the right of thecolumn labeled destination. Each listing, or at least a portion of eachlisting, is a hyperlink invoking, when selected, the URL to thatdestination. In some instances a particular service may have more thanone associated URL. For example, My Bank.com may have more than one URLassociated for such as different accounts or businesses associated alsowith a single subscriber. In this case there may be a sub-listing fordifferent destinations associated with a single higher-level listing.This expedient is not shown, but given this teaching the mechanism willbe apparent to those with skill in the art.

[0066] In some embodiments one page 33 may be shared by more than oneuser, such as a husband and wife sharing a common account andsubscription. An instance of this is illustrated herein with respect tothe server labeled Mortgage.com wherein both a John and a Jane Doe arelisted together under the column labeled user name. In anotherembodiment, a network of individuals, perhaps business owners,authorized co-workers, investment parties, or the like may share oneapplication. In this way, system 11 may be adapted for privateindividuals as well as business uses.

[0067] After gaining access to application 33 which is served viaInternet portal server 31 of FIG. 1, a user may scroll, highlight, andselect any URL in his or her list 34 for the purpose of navigation tothat particular destination for further interaction. Application 33already has each password and user name listed for each URL. It is notnecessary, however, that the password and user name be displayed for auser or users. These may well be stored transparently in a user'sprofile, and invoked as needed as a user makes selections. Therefore, auser is spared the need of entering passwords and user names for anydestinations enabled by list 34. Of course, each list 34 is built,configured and maintained by a subscribing user or users, and an editingfacility is also provided wherein a user may edit and update listings,including changing URL's adding and deleting listings, and the like.

[0068] In another aspect of the invention new listings for a user'sprofile, such as a new passthrough to a bank or other enterprise page,may be added semi-automatically as follows: Typically, when a user opensa new account with an enterprise through interaction with a WEB pagehosted by the enterprise, the user is required to provide certaininformation, which will typically include such as the user's ID,address, e-mail account, and so forth, and typically a new user name andpassword to access the account. In this process the user will beinteracting with the enterprise's page from his/her browser. APassword-All plug-in is provided wherein, after entering the requiredinformation for the new enterprise, the user may activate apre-determined signal (right click, key stroke, etc.), and thePassword-All suite will then enter a new passthrough in the user'sPassword-All profile at the Password-All Portal server.

[0069] In a related method for new entries, the enterprise hosting thePassword-All Portal may, by agreement with other enterprises, providelog-in and sign-up services at the Password-All Portal, with most actiontransparent to the user. For example, there may be, at the Password-AllPortal, a selectable browser list of cooperating enterprises, such asbanks, security services, and the like, and a user having a Password-AllPortal subscription and profile may select among such cooperatingenterprises and open new accounts, which will simultaneously andautomatically be added to the Password-All Portal page for the user andto the server hosted by the cooperating enterprise. There may be someinteractivity required for different accounts, but in the main, muchinformation from the user's profile may be used directly without beingre-entered.

[0070] The inventors have anticipated that many potential users may wellbe suspicious of providing passwords and user names to an enterprisehosting a Password-All Portal Server executing a service likePassword-All according to embodiments of the present invention. Toaccommodate this problem, in preferred embodiments, it is not necessarythat the user provide the cleartext password to Password. All. Instead,an encrypted version of each password is provided. When a user links tohis passthrough page in Password-All at the Password-All Portal server,when he/she invokes a hyperlink, the encrypted password is returned tothe user's system, which then, by virtue of the kept encryption key ormaster password, invokes the true and necessary password for connectionto the selected destination. It is thus not necessary that cleartextpasswords be stored at the Password-All Portal server, where they may bevulnerable to attack from outside sources, or to perceived misuse inother ways as well.

[0071] In a related safety measure, in a preferred embodiment of theinvention, a user's complete profile is never stored on a single server,but is distributed over two or more, preferably more, servers, so anyproblem with any one server will minimize the overall effect for anyparticular user.

[0072] Password-All, as described above, allows a user to access acomplete list of the user's usual cyberspace destinations, complete withnecessary log-on data, stored in an encrypted fashion, so a user maysimply select a destination (a hyperlink) in the Password-All list, andthe user's browser then invokes the URL for the selected destination. Inan added feature, Password-All may display banner ads and other types ofadvertisement during the navigation time between a hyperlink beinginvoked and the time the destination WEB page is displayed.

[0073] In yet another embodiment of the invention, a user/subscriberneed not access the Password-All page to enjoy the advantages of theunique features provided. In this variation, a Plug-In is provided forthe subscriber's WEB browser. If the subscriber navigates by use of thelocal browser to a WEB page requiring a secure log-in, such as his/heron-line banking destination, when the subscriber is presented with aninput window for ID and Password, the plug in may be activated by apredetermined user input, such as a hot key or right click of the mousedevice. The plug-in then accesses, transparently, the Password-All page(which may be cached at the client), and automatically accesses andprovides the needed data for log-on.

[0074] In yet another aspect of the invention a search option 37 allowsa user to search list 34 for specific URL's based on typed input such askeywords or the like. In some cases, the number of URL's stored in list34 can be extensive making a search function such as function 37 anattractive option. A criteria dialog box 51 illustrated as logicallyseparated from and below list 34 is provided and adapted to accept inputfor search option 37 as is known in the art. In one embodiment, searchoption 37 may bring up a second window wherein a dialog box such as box51 could be located.

[0075] In another aspect of the invention the search function may alsobe configured in a window invoked from window 33, and caused to searchall or selected ones of listed destinations, and to return results in amanner that may be, at least to some extent, configured by a user. Forexample, a dialog box may be presented wherein a user may enter a searchcriteria, and select among all of the listed destinations. The searchwill then access each of the selected destinations in turn, and theresult may be presented to the user as each instance of the criteria isfound, or results may be listed in a manner to be accessed after thesearch.

[0076] Preferably the search function is a part of the Password-AllPortal software, available for all users, and may be accessed byhyperlinks in user's personal pages. In some embodiments users maycreate highly individualized search functions that may be stored in amanner to be usable only by the user who creates such a function.

[0077] In many aspects of the present invention, knowledge of specificWEB pages, and certain types of WEB pages, is highly desirable. In manyembodiments characteristics of destination WEB pages are researched bypersons (facilitators) maintaining and enhancing Password-All Portalsoftware 35, and many characteristics may be provided in configurationmodules for users to accomplish specific tasks. In most cases thesecharacteristics are invoked and incorporated transparent to the user.

[0078] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the Password-Allsuite is structured to provide periodic reports to a user, in a mannerto be structured and timed by the user, through the user's profile. Forexample, reports of changes in account balances in bank accounts, stockpurchases, stock values, total airline travel purchases, frequent-fliermiles, and the like may be summarized and provided to the users in manydifferent ways. Because the Password-All Portal server with thePassword-All software site handles a broad variety of transactionaltraffic for a user, there is an opportunity to summarize and collect andprocess statistics in many useful ways. In preferred embodiments of theinvention such reports may be furnished and implemented in a number ofdifferent ways, including being displayed on the user's secure personalWEB page on the Password-All Portal.

[0079] In addition to the ability of performing tasks as describedabove, task results including reports, and hard documents such asairline tickets may be sent over the Internet or other datapacket-networks to user-defined destinations such as fax machines,connected computer nodes, e-mail servers, and other Internet-connectedappliances. All tasks may be set-up and caused to run according touser-defined schedules while the user is doing something else or isotherwise not engaged with the scheduled task.

[0080] In another embodiment of the present invention, recognizing theincreasing use of the Internet for fiscal transactions, such aspurchasing goods and services, a facility is provided in a user'sprofile to automatically track transactions made at variousdestinations, and to authorize payment either on atransaction-by-transaction basis, or after a session, using access tothe user's bank accounts, all of which may be pre-programed andauthorized by the user.

[0081] Other functions or options illustrated as part of application 35include a last URL option 41, an update function 43, and an add function45. Function 41 allows a user to immediately navigate to a last visitedURL. Update function 43 provides a means of updating URL's for contentand new address. An add function enables a user to add additional URL'sto list 34. Similarly, function 45 may also provide a means to deleteentries. Other ways to add accounts are described above. It should benoted that the services provided by the unique Password-All Portal inembodiments of the present invention, and by the Password-All softwaresuite are not limited to destinations requiring passwords and usernames. The Password-All Portal and software in many embodiments may alsobe used to manage all of a user's bookmarks, including editing ofbookmarks and the like. In this aspect, bookmarks will typically bepresented in indexed, grouped, and hierarchical ways.

[0082] There are editing features provided with Password-All for adding,acquiring, deleting, and otherwise managing bookmarks. As a convenience,in many embodiments of the invention, bookmarks may be downloaded from auser's Password-All site, and loaded onto the same user's local browser.In this manner, additions and improvements in the bookmark set for auser may be used without the necessity of going to Password-All.Further, bookmarks may be uploaded from a user's local PC to his/herhome page on the Password-All site by use of one or more Password-Allplug-ins.

[0083] It will be apparent to the skilled artisan, given the teachingherein, that the functionality provided in various embodiments of theinvention is especially applicable to Internet-capable appliances thatmay be limited in input capability. For example, a set-top box in a WEBTV application may well be without a keyboard for entering IDs andPasswords and the like. In practice of the present invention keyboardentry is minimized or eliminated. The same comments apply to many othersorts of Internet appliances.

[0084] In preferred embodiments of the invention, once a subscriber-useris in Password-All, only an ability to point-and-click is needed for allnavigation. To get into the Password-All site, using a limitedapparatus, such as an appliance without a keyboard or keypad, aSmartcard or embedded password may be used, or some other type ofauthentication.

[0085] It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that aninteractive application such as application 33 may be provided in a formother than a WEB page without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention. For example, an application such as application 33may be provided as a downloadable module or program that may be set-upand configured off-line and made operational when on-line.

[0086]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating user interaction with theInternet Password-All Portal of FIG. 1. The following process stepsillustrated, according to an embodiment of the present invention, areintended to illustrate exemplary user-steps and automated softwareprocesses that may be initiated and invoked during interaction with anInternet portal of the present invention such as portal 31 of FIG. 1. Instep 53 a user connects to the Internet or another previously describedswitched-packet network via a compatible appliance such as Internetappliance 17 of FIG. 1.

[0087] At step 55, a user enters a user-name and password, which, in oneembodiment, may simply be his ISP user name and password. In anotherembodiment, a second password or code would be required to access anInternet portal such as portal server 31 of FIG. 1 after logging ontothe Internet through the ISP. In some cases, having a specialarrangement with the ISP, there may be one password for both Internetaccess through the ISP and for Password-All. At step 57 a personal WEBpage such as page 32 of FIG. 2 is displayed via Internet portal server31. At minimum, the personalized WEB page will contain all userconfigured URL'S, and may also be enhanced by a search function, amongother possibilities.

[0088] In step 58 a user will, minimally, select a URL from his or herbookmarked destinations, and as is known by hyperlink technology, thetransparent URL will be invoked, and the user will navigate to thatdestination for the purpose of normal user interaction. In this action,the Password-All Portal software transparently logs the user on to thedestination page, if such log-on is needed.

[0089] At step 60 the user invokes a search engine by clicking on anoption such as described option 37 of FIG. 2. At step 62, the userinputs search parameters into a provided text field such as text field51 of FIG. 2. After inputting such parameters, the user starts thesearch by a button such as button 52. The search engine extractsinformation in step 64. Such information may be, in one option, of theform of URL's fitting the description provided by search parameters. Asearched list of URL's may be presented in a separate generated page instep 66 after which a user may select which URL to navigate to. In anoptional search function, the user may provide search criteria, andsearch any or all of the possible destinations for the criteria.

[0090] In another embodiment wherein WEB pages are cached in theirpresentable form, information extracted in step 64 may include anyinformation contained in any of the stored pages such as text, pictures,interactive content, or the like. In this case, one displayed resultpage may provide generated links to search results that include the URLassociated with the results. Perhaps by clicking on a text or graphicresult, the associated WEB page will be displayed for the user with theresult highlighted and in view with regards to the display window.

Enhanced Agent for WEB Summaries

[0091] In another aspect of the present invention, a software agent,termed a gatherer by the inventors, is adapted to gather and returnsummary information about URL's according to user request or enterprisediscretion. This is accomplished in embodiments of the present inventionby a unique scripting and language parsing method provided by theinventor wherein human knowledge workers associated with the serviceprovide written scripts to such a gatherer according to subscriber orenterprise directives. Such a software gatherer, and capabilitiesthereof, is described in enabling detail below.

[0092] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an exemplaryarchitecture representing a portal service-network which, in this caseis hosted by ISP 15. Portal software 35 in this embodiment executes onportal server 31 set-up at the ISP location. Mass repository 29 is usedfor storing subscriber information such as passwords, login names, andthe like. Internet servers 23, 25, and 27 represent servers that areadapted to serve WEB pages of enterprises patronized by a subscriber tothe portal service such as one operating Internet appliance 17.

[0093] The main purpose of portal software 35 as described above withreference to FIG. 2, is to provide an interactive application that listsall of the subscriber's WEB sites in the form of hyperlinks. When a userinvokes a hyperlink from his personal list, software 35 uses thesubscriber's personal information to provide an automatic andtransparent login function for the subscriber while jumping thesubscriber to the subject destination.

[0094] Referring again to FIG. 2, an interactive list 34 containinguser-entered hyperlinks and a set of interactive tools is displayed to asubscriber by portal software 35 of FIG. 1. One of the tools availableto a subscriber interacting with list 34 is agent (software) 39. Agent39 may be programmed to perform certain tasks such as obtaining accountinformation, executing simple transactions, returning user-requestednotification information about upcoming events, and so on. Searchfunction 37 and update function 43 may be integrated with agent 39 asrequired to aid in functionality.

[0095] It is described in the above disclosure that agent 39 may, insome embodiments, search for and return certain summary informationcontained on user-subscribed WEB pages, such as account summaries, ordertracking information and certain other information according touser-defined parameters. This feature may be programmed by a user towork on a periodic time schedule, or on demand.

[0096] In the following disclosure, enhancements are provided to agent39. Such enhancements, described in detail below, may be integrated intoagent 39 of portal software 35 (FIGS. 1 and 2); and may be provided as aseparate agent or gatherer to run with portal software 35; or may, insome embodiments, be provided as a standalone service that is separatefrom portal software 35.

[0097]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a summarization softwareagent 67 and various capabilities and layers thereof according to anembodiment of the present invention. Summarization agent 67, hereinaftertermed gatherer 67, is a programmable and interactive softwareapplication adapted to run on a network server. Gatherer 67 may, in oneembodiment, be integrated with portal software 35 of FIG. 1 and beprovided in the form of a software module separate from agent 39 (FIG.2). In another embodiment, gatherer 67 may be a part of agent 39 as anenhancement to the function of that agent as previously described. Instill another embodiment, gatherer 67 may be provided as a parent orclient-side application controlled by a separate service from the portalservice described above.

[0098] In this exemplary embodiment gatherer 67 is a multi-featuredsoftware application having a variety of sub-modules and interfacemodules incorporated therein to provide enhanced function. Gatherer 67has a client/service interface layer 69 adapted to enable directiveinput from both a client (user) and a knowledge worker or workersassociated with the service. A browser interface 77 is provided in layer69, and adapted to provide access to application 67 from a browserrunning on a client's PC or other Internet or network appliance.Interface 77 facilitates bi-directional communication with a user'sbrowser application (not shown) for the purpose of allowing the user toinput summary requests into gatherer 67 and receive summary results.Interface 77 supports all existing network communication protocols suchas may be known in the art, and may be adapted to support futureprotocols.

[0099] Layer 69 also comprises a unique input scripting module 79 thatis adapted to allow a human knowledge worker to create and supplydirective scripts containing the site logic needed by gatherer 67 tofind and retrieve data from a WEB site. In this case, gatherer 67executes and runs on a network server such as server 31 of FIG. 1.However, this is not required in order to practice the presentinvention.

[0100] It is assumed in this example that gatherer 67 is part of theportal software suite 35 running on server 31 of FIG. 1. Gatherer 67 maybe provided as several dedicated agents, or as one multi-functionalagent without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. For example, one gatherer 67 may be scripted and programmedto execute a single user request with additional gatherers 67 calledupon to perform additional user-requests. Alternatively, one gatherer 67may be dedicated and assigned to each individual user and adapted tohandle all requests from that user.

[0101] Interface layer 69 facilitates exchange of information from botha client and a knowledge worker. A client operating a WEB browser withan appropriate plug-in is enabled to communicate and interact withgatherer 67. For example, a user may enter a request to return a summaryof pricing for all apartments renting for under $1000.00 per monthlocated in a given area (defined by the user) from apartments.com (oneof user's registered WEB sites). The just mentioned request would becategorized as either a periodic request, or a one time (on demand)request. The communicated request initiates a service action wherein aknowledge worker associated with the service uses module 79 to set-upgatherer 67 to perform it's function. Module 79 is typically executedfrom a network-connected PC operated by the knowledge worker.

[0102] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a uniquescripting method facilitated by module 79 is provided to enable gatherer67 to obtain the goal information requested by a user. For example, theabove mentioned example of WEB-site apartments.com has a specific HTML(hyper-text-markup-language) logic that it uses to create its site andpost its information. Such site logic is relatively standard fare for amajority of different sites hosted by different entities. Using thisknowledge, a knowledge worker creates a site-specific script or templatefor gatherer 67 to follow. Such a template contains descriptions andlocations of the appropriate fields used, for example, atapartments.com. Apartment description, location, deposit information,rental information, agent contact information, and other related fieldsare matched in terms of location and label description on the templatecreated with module 79. Completed templates are stored in a databasecontained in a storage facility such as, perhaps, repository 29 ofFIG. 1. Such templates may be reused and may be updated (edited) withnew data.

[0103] In one embodiment, one script may contain site logics for aplurality of WEB pages, and instructions for specific navigationalinstruction and password or login information may be contained thereinand executed serially, such as one site at a time. It is important tonote that the knowledge worker or workers may perform much of theirscripting via automatic controls such as by object linking and embedding(OLE) and a minor portion of scripting may be performed manually in anappropriate computer language, many of which are known in the art).

[0104] Gatherer 67 also has a process layer 71 adapted for internalinformation gathering and parameter configuration. An optional portalserver interface 81 is provided and adapted to allow gather 67 toprovide updated information to a user's list of hyperlinks and also toobtain data from portal server 31 if required. For example, requiredhyperlinks may be mirrored from a user's home page to a scriptingtemplate for navigational purposes. In an embodiment wherein gatherer 67is part of a standalone service, a convention for providing user logininformation may be supplied at the client's end when a request is made.For example, an encrypted password may be supplied by a client plug-inand gatherer 67 may temporarily borrow the user's encryption key whenauto login is performed.

[0105] An appliance configuration module 83 is provided and adapted toallow a user to define and configure an Internet appliance tocommunicate with the service and receive summary information. Suchappliances may include but are not limited to palm top PC's, lap topPC's, cellular telephones, WEB TV's, and so on. Typically, a user willbe presented a configuration WEB page from a network server thatdisplays in his browser window on his desktop PC. The page contains aninterface for communicating device parameters and communication protocoltypes to module 83. In this way, a user may configure a preferred devicefor receipt of summary information. Device parameters and communicationprotocols inherent to such a device are incorporated into the scriptingof the site template and are used as instructions for WEB summarydelivery.

[0106] A navigation layer 73 is provided and adapted to perform thefunction of external site navigation and data gathering for gatherer 67.To this end, a communication interface/browser control module 85 isprovided and adapted to function as a WEB browser to access WEB sitescontaining WEB data. Control 85 receives it's instruction from thescripted template created by the knowledge worker.

[0107] A parsing engine 87 is provided and adapted to parse individualWEB sites according to a template created via scripting module 79.Parsing engine 87 may be a Pearl engine, an IE HTML engine, or any otheror combination of known parsing engines. The template (not shown) tellscontrol 85 and parsing engine 87 where to go and what fields at thedestination site to look for to access desired data. Once the datafields are located, parsing engine 87 gathers current data in theappropriate field, and returns that data to the service for furtherprocessing such as data conversion, compression and storage, and thelike.

[0108] Because WEB sites use tools that use consistent logic in settingup their sites, this logic may be used by the summarization service toinstruct control 83 and parsing engine 87. The inventor provides hereinan exemplary script logic for navigating to and garnishing data fromamazon™.com. The hyperlinks and/or actual URLs required for navigationare not shown, but may be assumed to be included in the template script.In this example, a company name Yodlee (known to the inventors) is usedin the script for naming object holders and object containers, which arein this case Active X™ conventions. In another embodiment, Java™ scriptor another object linking control may be used. The scripted templatelogic example is as follows: # Site amazon.orders.x - shows status oforders from Amazon login( 7 ); get( “/exec/obidos/order-list/” ); my@tables = get_tables_containing_text( “Orders:” ); my $order_list = newYodlee::ObjectHolder( ‘orders’ ); $order_list->source( ‘amazon’ );$order_list->link_info( get_link_info() ); my @href_list; my@container_list; foreach my $table ( @tables ) { my @rows =get_table_rows(); foreach my $i ( 0 . . $#rows ) { select_row( $i ); my$text = get_text( $rows[ $i ] ); next if $text =˜/Orders:|Status/; my@items = get_row_items(); next unless @items >= 4; my( $order_num,$date, $status ); select_cell( 1 ); $order_num = get_cell_text(); my$href = get_url_of_first_href( get_cell() ); select_cell( 2 ); $date =get_cell_text(); select_cell( 3 ); $status = get_cell_text(); nextunless defined $order_num and defined $date and defined $status; my$order = new Yodlee::Container( ‘orders’ ); $order->order_number($order_num ); $order->date( $date ); $order->status( $status );$order_list->push_object( $order ); if( defined $href ) { push(@href_list, $href ); push( @container_list, $order ); foreach my $i ( 0. . $#href_list ) { get( $href_list[$i ] ); @tables =get_tables_containing_text( “Items Ordered:” ); foreach my $table (@tables ) { my @rows = get_table_rows(); foreach my $j ( 0 . . $#rows ){ select_row( $j ); my $href = get_url_of_first_href( get_row() ); nextunless defined $href; my @child_list = get_children( get_row(), ‘a’ );next unless defined $child_list[ 0 ]; my $text = get_text( $child_list[0 ] ); $container_list[ $i ]->description( $text ); } } } result($order_list );

[0109] The above example is a script that instructs control 85 andparser 87 to navigate to and obtain data from Amazon™.com, specificallythat data that reflects the user's current order status. Scripts mayalso be written to obtain virtually any type of text informationavailable from any site. For example, a user may wish to obtain the NewYork Times headlines, the top ten performing stocks, a comparative listof flights from San Francisco to New York, etc. In one embodiment,metadata may be associated with and used in-place of the actual scriptedlanguage for the purpose of reducing complication in the case of manyscripts on one template.

[0110] A data processing layer 75 is provided and adapted to store,process, and present returned data to users according to enterpriserules and client direction. A database interface module 89 is providedand adapted to provide access for gatherer 67 to a mass repository suchas repository 29 of FIG. 1, for the purpose of storing and retrievingsummary data, templates, presentation directives, and so on. Gathereragent 67 may also access data through interface 89 such as profileinformation, user account and URL information, stored site logics and soon. Data scanned from the WEB is stored in a canonical format in adatabase such as repository 29, or in another connected storagefacility. All stored data is, of course, associated with an individualwho requested it, or for whom the data is made available according toenterprise discretion.

[0111] A summarization page module 91 is provided and adapted toorganize and serve a WEB summary page to a user. Module 91, in someembodiments, may immediately push a WEB summary to a user, or module 91may store such summarized pages for a user to access via a pull method,in which case a notification may be sent to the user alerting him of thesummary page availability. Summarization module 91 includes an HTMLrenderer that is able to format data into HTML format for WEB pagedisplay. In this way, e-mail messages and the like may be presented asHTML text on a user's summarization page. Moreover, any summary datafrom any site may include an embedded hyperlink to that site. In thisway, a user looking at an e-mail text in HTML may click on it and launchthe appropriate e-mail program. Other sites will, by default, be linkedthrough the summary page.

[0112] Many users will access their summary data through a WEB page asdescribed above, however, this is not required in order to practice thepresent invention. In some embodiments, users will want their summaryinformation formatted and delivered to one of a variety ofInternet-capable appliances such as a palm top or, perhaps a cell phone.To this end, the renderer is capable of formatting and presenting thesummary data into a number of formats specific to alternative devices.Examples of different known formats include, but are not limited to XML,plain text, VoxML, HDML, audio, video, and so on.

[0113] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, gather 67 isflexible in such a way as it may act according to enterprise rules,client directives, or a combination of the two. For example, if a usermakes a request for summary data about a user/subscribed WEB page to beperiodically executed and presented in the form of a HTML document, thengather 67 would automatically access and analyze the required internalinformation and user provided information to formulate a directive.Using scripting module 79, a knowledge worker provides a template (ifone is not already created for that site) that contains the “where togo” and “what to get” information according to site logic, user input,and known information.

[0114] Alternatively, if a user requests a summary about data on one ofhis sites such as, perhaps, current interest rates and re-finance costsat his mortgage site, the service may at it's own discretion provide anadditional unsolicited summary from an alternate mortgage site forcomparison. This type of summarization would be designed to enhance auser's position based on his profile information. In this case, updateddata about latest interest rates, stock performances, car prices,airline ticket discounts, and so on would be stored by the service forcomparative purposes. If a user request for a summary can be equaled orbettered in terms of any advantage to the user, such summary data may beincluded.

[0115] In many cases, created templates may be re-used unless a WEB sitechanges it's site logic parameters, in which case, the new logic must beaccessed and any existing templates must be updated, or a new templatemay be created for the site. The templates contain site-specific scriptobtained from the site and stored by the knowledge workers. In oneembodiment, companies hosting WEB pages automatically provide their sitelogics and any logic updates to the service by virtue of an agreementbetween the service and the WEB hosts.

[0116] In an alternative embodiment gatherer 67 may be implemented as aclient application installed on a user's PC. In this embodiment, a userwould not be required to supply log-in or password codes. Summarizationscripts may be sent to the client software and templates may beautomatically created with the appropriate scripts using log-in andpassword information encrypted and stored locally on the user's machine.

[0117] In addition to providing WEB summary information, gatherer 67 mayalso be used to provide such as automatic registration to new sites, andfor updating old registration information to existing sites. Forexample, if a user wishes to subscribe, or register at a new site, onlythe identification of the site is required from the user as long as hispertinate information has not changed. If a new password or the like isrequired, gatherer 67 through control module 73 may present login orpassword codes from a list of alternative codes provided by a user. Inanother embodiment, a database (not shown) containing a wealth ofpassword options may be accessed by gatherer 67 for the purpose oftrying different passwords until one is accepted by the site. Once apassword or log-in code is accepted, it may be sent to a user and storedin his password list and at the network level.

[0118] It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that a softwareapplication such as gatherer 67 may be implemented in many separatelocations connected in a data network. For example, a plurality ofgatherer applications may be distributed over many separate serverslinked to one or more mass repositories. Client applications include butare not limited to a WEB-browser plug-in for communicating to theservice. Plug-in extensions may also be afforded to proxy servers sothat auto-login and data access may still be performed transparent to auser.

[0119] In another embodiment, plug-ins enabling communication withgatherer 67 may be provided and configured to run on other networkdevices for the purpose of enabling such a device to initiate a requestand get a response without the need for a desktop computer.

[0120] In most embodiments a user operating a desktop PC will order aone time or periodic summary related to some or all of his subscribedWEB sites. A logical flow of an exemplary request/response interactionis provided below.

[0121]FIG. 5 is a logical flow chart illustrating an exemplarysummarization process performed by the software agent of FIG. 4operating in a user-defined mode. In step 93, a user has initiated a newrequest for a summary (summary order). It is assumed for the purpose ofdiscussion, that the request of step 93 involves a site wherein notemplate has been created. In step 95, the request is received andanalyzed. A knowledge worker will likely perform this step. The newrequest may be posted to the user's portal home page, sent directly togatherer 67, or even communicated through e-mail or other media to theservice.

[0122] In step 97 a knowledge worker accesses particular site logicassociated with the request URLs. For example, if the request involves aplurality of URLs, then all site logics for those URLs are accessed.Logic may be available in a repository such as repository 29 of FIG. 1if they were obtained at the time of user registration to a particularURL, or sent in by WEB-site hosts shortly after registration. If it is acompletely new URL, then the logic must be obtained from the site. Inmost cases however, the logic will be known by virtue of a plurality ofusers accessing common URLs. Therefore cross-linking in a database oflogic/user associations may be performed to access a logic for a sitethat is new to one particular user, but not new to another.

[0123] In step 99, the knowledge worker creates a template by virtue ofscripting module 79 (FIG. 4) containing all site logic, URLs, log-in andpassword information, and the user request information. As describedpreviously, templates may be re-used for a same request. In most cases,scripting may be mostly automated with minimum manual input performed bythe knowledge worker. In many cases, an existing template will match anew request exactly, and may be re-used. In that case steps 97, 99, and101 would not be required.

[0124] In step 101 the template is stored and associated with therequesting user. The stored template may now be retrieved at a scheduledtime for performing the summary gathering. At step 103, a browsercontrol such as module 85 of FIG. 4 is activated to access the storedtemplate and navigate to specified URLs for the purpose of gatheringsummary data. If a timing function is attributed to the template storedin step 101, then the template may self execute and call up the browserfunction. In another embodiment, the knowledge worker may notify thebrowser control to get the template for it's next task. In someembodiments, a plurality of controls may be used with one template aspreviously described.

[0125] In step 105, automatic log-in is performed, if required, to gainaccess to each specified URL. In step 107, a specified WEB-page isnavigated to and parsed for requested data according to the logic on thetemplate. If there are a plurality of WEB-pages to parse, then this stepis repeated for the number of pages. A variety of parsing engines may beused for this process such as an ETM parser, or a Pearl™ parser. Onlythe requested data is kept in step 107.

[0126] A request may be an on-demand request requiring immediate return,or a scheduled request wherein data may be posted. At step 109, suchlogic is confirmed. If the data is to be presented according to aperiodic schedule, then summary data parsed in step 107 is stored forlater use in step 111. In step 113, the summary data is rendered as HTNLif not already formatted, and displayed in the form of a summaryWEB-page in step 115. The summary page may be posted for access by auser at a time convenient to the user (pull), or may be pushed as aWEB-page to the user and be made to automatically display on the user'sPC. Notification of summary page availability may also be sent to a userto alert him of completion of order.

[0127] If the summary data is from a one-time on-demand request andrequired immediately by a user, then a network appliance and datadelivery method (configured by the user) is confirmed, and the data isrendered in the appropriate format for delivery and display in step 117.In step 119, the summary data is delivered according to protocol to auser's designated appliance. In step 121 a user receives requestedinformation in the appropriate format.

[0128] It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that there maybe more or fewer logical steps as well as added sub-steps than areillustrated in this example. For example, step 105 may in otherembodiments include sub-steps such as getting an encryption key from auser. In still another embodiment, part of a request may be rendered asHTML as in step 113 while certain other portions of the same requestdata might be rendered in another format and delivered via alternativemethods. There are many possibilities.

[0129] The method and apparatus of the present invention may be used topresent summaries to users without user input. Process logic such asthis is detailed below.

[0130]FIG. 6 is a logical flow chart illustrating an exemplarysummarization process performed by the software agent of FIG. 4 in aUser-independent smart mode with minimum or no user input. In step 117an enterprise-initiated summary process begins. In this case, theenterprise may be assisting a user in finding a better deal or, perhapspresenting the individual with summaries from and links to alternativepages not yet subscribed to by a user.

[0131] In step 119, a database containing user information andparameters is accessed and reviewed. Certain information specific to auser may be required to initiate an enterprise-sponsored summary report.At step 121, the knowledge worker accesses the site logic specific tothe specified target site or sites for summarization. In step 123, theknowledge worker modifies an existing user template, or creates a newone if necessary. At step 125 the template is stored in a repositorysuch as repository 29 and associated with the user.

[0132] As described in FIG. 5, the template either self-executesaccording to a timed function and invokes a browser control such ascontrol 85 (FIG. 4), or is accessed by control 85 as a result of tasknotification. In step 127, the browser control begins navigation. Autologins are performed, if required, in step 129 to gain access toselected sites. If the WEB pages are new to a user, and the user has noregistration with the WEB site, then through agreement, or otherconvention, the service may be provided access to such sites. Such anagreement may be made, for example, if the host of the WEB site realizesa possibility of gaining a new customer if the customer likes thesummary information presented. In many other situations, no password orlogin information is required to obtain general information that is notpersonal to a client.

[0133] In step 131, all sites are parsed for summary data and stored incanonical fashion in step 133. At step 135, the data is compiled andrendered as HTML for presentation on a summary page. In step 137, a WEBsummary containing all of the data is made available to a user and theuser is notified of it's existence.

[0134] Providing certain information not requested by a user may aid inenhancing a user's organization of is current business on the WEB.Moreover, unsolicited WEB summaries may provide better opportunitiesthan the current options in the user's profile. Of course, assisting auser in this manner will require that the enterprise (service) haveaccess to the user's profile and existing account and serviceinformation with various WEB sites on the user's list. A user may forbiduse of a user's personal information, in which case, noenterprise-initiated summaries would be performed unless they areconducted strictly in an offer mode instead of a comparative mode.

[0135] The method and apparatus also may be practiced in a language andplatform independent manner, and be implemented over a variety ofscalable server architectures.

Presenting Meta-Summarized Reports

[0136] In another aspect of the present invention, a method is providedlargely through unique software wherein summary reports may be orderedand presented to users, the reports reflecting calculated andsolution-orientated results. This type of summarizing is termedmeta-summarization by the inventors, because it is a summarization overa plurality of data sources. Such a method is described in enablingdetail below.

[0137]FIG. 7 is an overview of a meta-summarization process according toan embodiment of the present invention. The term “meta-summary” is usedby the inventor in this embodiment also to distinguish the meta-summaryprocess taught herein from the summary process taught above in thisspecification; in that meta-summarizing involves interpreting andcalculating data for reporting a solution-orientated result derived fromdata retrieved from multiple network sources.

[0138] In this embodiment, a portal station 151 is provided and adaptedby virtue of software and hardware, to perform WEB-summary andpresentation services according to embodiments described in theco-patent applications listed above. Station 151 may be an ISP, a mainInternet server, or other network connected server or interface station.In this example, portal station 151 is continuously connected to asource network, which is in this embodiment, the Internet networkrepresented by Internet cloud 139. The above-described networkconnection is afforded by an Internet-connection line 149 from station151 to an Internet backbone 147. Internet backbone 147 represents alllines and connections, including sub-nets that make up a global Internet139.

[0139] Portal station 151 has a means provided therein for maintaining aportal interface 153. Portal interface 153 is a file-server interface inthis example, however in other embodiments, differing types ofnetwork-interface hardware may be substituted therefor. Interface 153provides hyper-text-transfer protocol (HTTP) pages over anInternet-connection such as path 161 to subscribing users operating suchas an illustrated network-adapted PC 163. A user operating PC 163 may goon-line, in this case by such as a dial-up connection, and communicatewith portal interface 153 over connection path 161. Connection path 161may be a normal telephone line, an ISDN line, or another known type ofInternet-connection link including wireless connection. A dial-upconnection is illustrated herein only as a more common connectionmethod.

[0140] A data repository 157 is provided within station 151 and adaptedto warehouse aggregated data on behalf of and about a user. Datarepository 157 may be part of the same hardware supporting portalinterface 153 or it may be a separate hardware implementation connectedby a data link. Repository 157 may be of the form of optical storage, orany other known implementation used for storing large amounts of digitaldata. Repository 157 may be assumed to support varied database programsas may be required to manipulate and organize data or metadata storedtherein.

[0141] A data gathering sub-system GSS 159 is provided within station151 and is adapted as a software and hardware implementation capable ofnavigating data-packet networks, such as Internet 139, upon instruction.GSS 159 represents automated browser control/navigation as described inco-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/523,598. GSS 159 is analogousto navigation layer 73 described in FIG. 4 above.

[0142] A plurality of network-connected data sources represented hereinby file/data servers 141-145 are illustrated in Internet 139. Servers141-145 are user-subscribed servers known to portal station 151. Forexample, servers 141-145 may represent one user's collectiveWEB-services for banking and investment. Such options include banking,stock trading, retirement account servers, insurance servers, and so on.It is noted here that servers 141-145 are assumed to represent separateWEB-based services subscribed to by one user and are not affiliated withone another. For example, a user operating such as PC 163 would do allof his on-line banking, trading, and investing using servers 141-145 inthis example.

[0143] In another embodiment, servers 141-145 may represent all of auser's frequented on-line shopping services. The fact that all ofservers 141-145 are topically related but not affiliated with oneanother in this example serves only to aid in explanation of the presentinvention as will be seen below.

[0144] It is taught in the co-pending patent application entitled“Method and Apparatus for Obtaining and Presenting WEB Summaries toUsers” that site navigation, parsing data, and returning data to usersor storage is enabled, in part, by site-logic templates providedtypically by knowledge workers-This aspect is represented herein by a PC167 adapted for a knowledge worker (KW). A KW working from a stationsuch as PC 167 provides site-logic scripts for navigation to datarequested by a user and stored in any one of or all of servers 141-145.Such scripts are provided to GSS 159 over a data link 165. Summary datastored in such as repository 157 is stored for user access. In somecases wherein a user requests immediate data return, data is sentdirectly to such as portal interface 153 where a user may then accessthe data immediately.

[0145] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a noveldatabase-reporting engine DBRE 155 is provided and adapted to performformulative processes to aggregated data on behalf of a user. DBRE 155is in itself a database utility and is in a preferred embodiment a partof the software environment of repository 157. In another embodimentDBRE 155 may be part of the software environment of portal interface153.

[0146] In this embodiment, DBRE 155 acts as a first “gathering agent”and checks repository 157 first for user requested data upon request.User-history records of all user transactions at all of his registeredWEB-based services are preferably maintained in repository 157 and areaccessible to DBRE 155. In some cases, services such as thoserepresented by servers 141-145 may provided complete transactionhistories that may be obtained and stored in repository 157 and updatedperiodically. In some cases however, such services may not retainhistory records for users. In this case, a user accessing such servicesthrough his or her portal interface 153 may track each transaction overa normal course of time resulting in a history record for transactionsat that service that is maintained in repository 157.

[0147] In the case of servers 141-145, each contains some form offinancial portfolio data connected to one user. For example, server 141may represent a banking service where a user has a savings account.Server 142 may represent a banking service where the user has a checkingaccount. Server 143 may represent an on-line investment companymaintaining a fast-changing portfolio of investments and losses for theparticular user. Server 144 may represent a banking company where theuser has an individual retirement account (IRA). Server 145 mayrepresent a mortgage company holding data about the users propertyportfolios. Each site presumably holds current account-statusinformation and a financial history of transactions performed by aparticular user.

[0148] To illustrate, assume that all financial data particular to oneuser is provided by or obtained from servers 141-145, aggregated in datarepository 157, and updated periodically. A user operating PC 163 mayaccess portal interface 153 by way of Internet connection 161 andrequest a specific result that involves some or all of the data acrossmultiple servers 141-145. One example would be a user-initiated command“calculate my current net-worth”. The resulting meta-summarized reportwould inform a user of his or her calculated net-worth with allfinancial data from all financial data-sources (servers 141-145)analyzed in the process of answering the user query.

[0149] In this case DBRE 155 utilizes only data that is alreadyaggregated in repository 157. Therefore, it is not specifically requiredthat GSS 159 navigate on behalf of the user in a case where data held inaggregation is current and sufficient to satisfy a user request.However, if a user's particular request, such as the one stated in theabove example, requires navigation to one or more of servers 141-145,GSS 159, using site logic provided by KW 167, would navigate to eachrequired site and retrieve the required data. After the required data isaggregated in repository 157, DBRE 155 may analyze the aggregated dataand generate an accurate report from the aggregated data based on auser's request.

[0150] It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that providing aunique engine such as DBRE 155 on a user-side of repository 157 savesprecious bandwidth resource required by individual site navigation andreturn of data ordered by a user. Added storage space is required inrepository 157 for the purpose of storing complete activity historiesfrom multiple WEB services on behalf of users. However, adding suchresource and saving bandwidth represents an intelligent implementationin light of the many techniques known in the art for compressing andarchiving data. More detail about the function of DBRE 155 is presentedbelow.

[0151]FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating additional detail,components and functions of DBRE 155 of FIG. 7 according to anembodiment of the present invention. DBRE 155 is a functional interfacecapable of obtaining, analyzing, and preparing data for presentation toa user. As such, it contains certain sub-modules responsible forperforming certain required functions. For example, a control-logicmodule 171 is provided as part of DBRE 155 and adapted to parse andconfirm a user's request as well as to insure that a user-selectedpresentation format is available and appropriate for the type of dataresult requested by a user. Such options are contained in an optionsdatabase 173 illustrated as connected to control module 171 by a doublearrow representing bi-directional communication.

[0152] Options database 173 may be part of DBRE 155 as illustratedherein, or part of repository 157 and made accessible to DBRE 155. Inthe case of DBRE 155 maintaining its own databases such as optionsdatabase 173, and a previously described database containing userhistories across multiple accounts, then DBRE 155 would be resident in amachine having enough storage memory to hold all required data. Such amachine could be a processor/server. In another embodiment, all storeddata is held in repository 157.

[0153] DBRE 155 also has a runtime engine 177, which performs dataanalyzing and calculation in order to form specific data results orsolutions for users based on user request. Engine 177 has access to allof the mathematical tools and system knowledge required to perform itsobjectives which can vary considerably. A knowledge base (not shown) maybe used as a source of intelligence for engine 177 as is generally knownin the art of configuration models.

[0154] Engine 177 performs a wide variety of mathematical functionsincluding such as statistical analysis, summing, averaging, and so on.In one embodiment, algebraic, geometric, and trigonometric functions arealso provided for performing more complex calculations. In most caseshowever, user requests will be geared more toward averaging, summing,predicting probabilities, deriving percentages, and so on. For example,summing multiple bank balances would be a common task. Analyzing on-linespending trends across multiple on-line shopping services would beanother example of a common task. A more complicated report mightcompare shopping trends with income potential and produce a ratio figurealong with recommended ways to improve on the ratio without sacrificingneeded goods. There are many possibilities.

[0155] A graphics user interface (GUI) module 181 is provided withinDBRE 155 and adapted to prepare data according to requested format and arequesting display type. GUI module 181 has knowledge of whichpresentation option was selected from options database 173, andknowledge of the parameters (hardware and software platform) of aparticular device or station that will receive a report. It is notrequired that a report be directed back to an originating device. Insome embodiments, a user may direct a meta-summary report to alternativereceiving devices over different mediums. This assumes, of course, thatthe receiving devices and data networks are known to the system.

[0156] In practice of the present invention, a user initiates a requestillustrated herein as an arrow labeled input to a pre-configured request169 from such as his or her browser interface. Request 169 is parsed formeaning in control-logic module 171. If there is an error detected inthe original request 169, such as missing information or an optionselection that is not available, then an error report is immediatelysent back to that user as illustrated by the arrow labeled error report.Control-logic module 171 may check options database 173 to determine ifan unavailable option was selected and present an alternative availableoption back with the error report.

[0157] Once module 171 has confirmed a request and confirmed apresentation option, it accesses a guard (GI) 175 resident on the clientside of such as repository 157 of FIG. 7 to see if there is enoughcurrent data stored therein to enable formulation of a valid result.Data obtained from repository 157 of FIG. 1 by way of databaseinteraction is included in guard 175 and passed to engine 177 forprocessing. If however, a required portion of data is missing fromrepository 155, GSS 159 of FIG. 7 may be invoked to retrieve therequested data. An error message may, in this case, be sent back to auser informing him of a requirement to navigate for a portion ofrequired data.

[0158] All of the data required to return a requested report is funneledinto runtime engine 177. All of the appropriate calculations areperformed and the resulting data illustrated herein as raw data-results177 is passed into GUI module 181. GUI module 181 then prepares theresult data for presentation to a user illustrated herein as an arrowlabeled output.

[0159] As described above, a report may be very simple or quite complex,including text and graphical elements as well. In one embodiment, all ofthe process steps performed on included data may be broken down andreported to a user along with a final result. Presentation options mayinclude spreadsheets, graphs, text reports, pie charts, and so on.

[0160] In the example presented above, DBRE 155 is a multi-functionalmodule that may be broken down into cooperating sub-modules. However,this is not required to practice the present invention. One with skillin the art will recognize that there are other orders of modules anddistribution paths that may be utilized to accomplish the same function.For example, DBRE 155 (FIG. 7) may interface directly with GSS 159 (FIG.7) instead of being enhanced for gathering from aggregated data. In thiscase GSS 159 would first check repository 157 before determining ifnavigation is required. In another embodiment navigation may be requiredby default to insure that all data in aggregation is current. There aremany possibilities.

[0161]FIG. 9 is a process flow diagram illustrating logical user andsystem steps from initialization to completion of a meta-summarizedreport according to an embodiment of the present invention. At step 183,a user initiates a meta-summary report request from such as PC 163 ofFIG. 7 using a browser/portal interface. A request might be to sum allof my interest earnings from all of my interest bearing accounts over a1-year period and return a monthly average. In a preferred embodimentsuch a request may be made in a “natural language” understood by theportal software.

[0162] At step 185, control logic registers and confirms feasibility ofthe original request. This step includes parsing the request, confirminga presentation option, confirming presentation delivery parameters(software, hardware, medium) and so on. Once a request is approved foraction, a data gatherer at step 187 accesses the database, such as inrepository 157 (FIG. 7) for required data. Such a gatherer, termed a botby the inventor, may be part of DBRE 155 as illustrated in FIG. 8, orpart of GSS 159 of FIG. 7.

[0163] At step 189 it is determined whether or not there is sufficientdata available in aggregation to complete the request. If the decisionis yes, then the required data is extracted from the database (DB) instep 191. At step 193 the extracted data is processed according to toolsthat accomplish the user's request, which is a solution-orientatedresult. Text records of processing may also be forwarded to a user ifrequested. In this way a user might review several steps taken to arriveat a solution-oriented result.

[0164] At step 193, the raw result data is prepared according touser-requested presentation options in such as GUI module 181 of FIG. 8.A presentation option may consist of simple text results appearing on auser's portal home page. In one embodiment, a separate WEB page may beconstructed that displays varied versions of the same result such as atime chart, a text paragraph explaining the chart, and a tablereflecting result values. A meta-summary dealing with an averagedinterest rate, as described in an example above, may be presented in avariety of ways. For example, each account and individual result may belisted, followed by a summed result over a particular time span,followed by an average figure over a smaller increment of time. Thereare no limits to presentation possibilities as long as the appropriatesoftware containers are supported at both ends of the interaction. Inmost cases, a browser interface supporting full interactive functionwill be utilized. In step 197, the prepared GUI data is sent to arequesting user such as one operating PC 163 of FIG. 7 over an Internetconnection such as connection 161. It should be noted here again thatmany devices are capable of effecting an interface with DBRE 155 of FIG.8 and receiving result data. The success of configuring varied devicesto the system will depend on provided network and data interfaces.

[0165] If in step 189 it is determined that there is not enough data orthe right kind of data already in aggregation to complete a request,then the request is passed over to a GSS, such as GSS 159 of FIG. 7 instep 199. In one embodiment gathering is the sole responsibility of GSS159 as has already been described. In step 201 site logic templates areobtained from such as a KW operating a PC such as PC 167 of FIG. 7. Ifthe navigation templates required are the same as templates that havebeen previously used, then such templates may be obtained from aconnected data store.

[0166] At step 203, a GSS such as GSS 159 of FIG. 8 navigates to andextracts data from required WEB sites in order to complete theaggregated data store on behalf of the requesting user. At step 205, thedata is passed into aggregation in a database assigned for the purposein such as repository 157. After all of the required data has beenaggregated in step 205, steps 191 through 197 are repeated.

[0167] It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the processsteps described above represent a mostly automated or completelyautomated process. Moreover, there may be other sub-routines addedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present inventionsuch as adding a user notification step in the event that in step 189,data is insufficient.

[0168] It will also be apparent to one with skill in the art that aprocess routine such as the one described herein may be alteredaccording to an alternate operating environment without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, if a user isinterfacing from a wireless device through such as a data center networkinterface, then added steps may be required to convert data to a formatunderstood on a different network. There are many diverse applications.

[0169]FIG. 10 is a representative view of an actual screen shot 207 of ameta-summarized report 209 on display in a user's browser interfaceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. In a more commonimplementation of the present invention, a user interfaces with such asa portal server by utilizing a common browser interface, many brands ofwhich are known in the art and readily available. In this particularexample, a Microsoft™ browser application known as the InternetExplorer™ (IE) is used. However the system of the present inventionworks with any software interface capable of navigating a data packetnetwork.

[0170] Summary report 209 consists of individual bank, investment andaccount listings complete with the names of the institutions. Summariesof the individually reported information for both bank accounts andstock accounts are found beneath each group listing. Report 209 is arather simplified example of many graphical possibilities andpresentation methods. Depending on the complexity of a request, ameta-summarized report may contain virtually any type of presentationmediums. Some examples include, but the invention is not limited tolimited to, Gant charts, time graphs, pie charts, flow charts, textsummaries, and so on. In another embodiment, a summarized report maycontain interactive options for looking at the same data in differentways, or even calculating further results from the results presented. Auser has many options when accomplishing interface with the system ofthe present invention through a fully functional browser applicationinstalled on a powerful PC. Interface through other devices such aspersonal digital assistant's, cellular telephones, and the like willobviously limit presentation options, however, the use of such devicesfor interface is possible and may, in some situations, be preferred.Such situations may be business meetings, interviews, and othersituations wherein a user may need to access some summary data, but doesnot have access to his personal computer station. Moreover, such datamay be previously ordered and sent to a place other than at his or herpersonal computer. With appropriate interface to telephony networks,such information may, if directed by a user, be faxed to a meetingplace, e-mailed to an associate's e-mail address, and so on. There aremany diverse applications, many of which have already been stated.

Multiple Point-Of-Access Summary Interface

[0171] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, aninteractive software interface suite is provided and packaged to enablemulti-point access to deeper levels of summary data as well astransaction and direct account access capabilities.

[0172]FIG. 11 is an exemplary screen shot of interactive interface suite211 for enabling multipoint account management capabilities according toan embodiment of the present invention. Interface suite 211, termed aDashboard by the inventors, provides a single interactive center forviewing summary data and for performing various transaction tasksrelated to data available through the interface. Interface 211 isdescribed as a suite because it is composed of a plurality ofsub-interfaces categorized in general by the type of data andfunctionality available through interaction with them. The plurality ofsub-interfaces forming interface 211 are, in this example, packaged inthe form of a single dynamic Web page using hyper-text-markup-language(HTML).

[0173] Referring now to FIG. 10, interface 211 replaces interfaces 207as a more functional, organized, and user-friendly interactive interfacefor receiving summary and solution-oriented data.

[0174] Referring now to FIG. 7, exemplary user 163 accesses services byinterfacing with portal interface 153 via Internet access line 161.Interface 211 is adapted to be served to user 163 in the form of a Webpage that his dynamic nature meaning that it is continually updated withnew information. Referring now to FIG. 8, database reporting-engine 155provides the data preparation and calculative services necessary forenabling the enhanced display capabilities of interface 211 and relatedsub-interfaces.

[0175] In this example, interface 211 is made up of 9 sub-modules eachmodule providing a different class of functionality. An Account Alertsmodule 213 is provided within interface 211 and adapted to displayvarious types of user-configured alerts that may be applied to a widerange of user account types. A Net Worth module 215 is provided withininterface 211 and adapted to report a user's net worth information asdetermined through calculation related to data associated with all ofthe user's financially related accounts, assets, and financialactivities. Module 215 is illustrated in this example as presentingdynamic graphics in the form of pie charts describing a user's currentassets and liabilities.

[0176] A bill Payment module 217 is provided within interface 211 andadapted for user configuration to report parameters related to billpayment. A Calendar module 219 is provided with interface 211 andadapted to hold all of a user's pending data-sensitive information. ATransaction Center module 221 is provided within interface 211 andadapted to list and summarize all of a user's online and manually inputtransactions. A Communications module 223 is provided within interface211 and adapted to report parameters associated with a user's onlinecommunications applications.

[0177] An Account Bookmarks module 225 is provided within interface 211and adapted to list all of a user's Web services in the form ofhyperlinks, which are enhanced with automatic login functionality (knownto inventor). A Portfolio Tracker module 227 is provided withininterface 211 and adapted to follow and report parameters related to theuser's favorite stocks and other investment vehicles. A Travel Planningmodule 229 is provided within interface 211 and adapted to enable a userto initiate, create, and manage travel itineraries including allparameters related to ticket purchase, hotel accommodations, carrentals, and other related tasks.

[0178] All of sub-modules 213-229 are interactive in the sense that auser invokes each module in order to obtain more detailed informationregarding the types and classes of dynamic data handled by the invokedmodule. Therefore, data visible on the “face” of each module representsinitial summarized updates that are exploitable for further details.

[0179] In one embodiment, further interactive enhancement is included insub-modules 213-229 that list service providers maintaining accounts forusers. From within these modules, the actual login service pages ofthose entities are accessible through provision of the appropriatehyperlinks to those pages. In addition to providing direct access to auser's service-providing entities through modules 213-229, hyperlinks toone or more configuration utilities associated with one or more modulesservicing a particular class or type of data may also be provided.Another enhancement provided by interface 211 is that varioussub-modules exemplified herein are interlinked with each other throughdatabase reporting engine 155 of FIG. 8 such that they may shareoverlapping data and cooperate with each other in prioritized or otherfashions with regard to the presentation and reporting of data that maybe associated or linked to more than one of the individual modules.

[0180] Referring now back to FIG. 8, data input leading into requestmodule 169 of database reporting engine 155 may contain configurationinput and request data from one or more utilities (not shown) that may,in preferred embodiments, be accessible through interface 211 of FIG.11. Output from GUI preparation module 181 is channeled for display intothe proper sub-module or modules ordering the data. Any particulardisplay characteristics provided as options are stored in optionsdatabase 173 and the products of user pre-configuration.

[0181] Referring now back to FIG. 11, Account Alert module 213 informs auser upon initial display of interface 211 of, in this case, 5 newalerts related to various types of accounts. For example, a listed WellsFargo™ balance is shown to have dropped below a $200.00 balancethreshold. Another listed alert informs a user that a Harry Potter© bookordered from Amazon™ has shipped. Alerts module 213 may bepre-configured to provide virtually any type of time or event-sensitivealert that a user may desire. By clicking on any of the listed alerts, auser may be hyper-linked to the appropriate submodule responsible forthe detailed data and account entity associated with the alert.

[0182] Net Worth module 215 uses the calculative and logic functionsprovided by database reporting engine 155 of FIG. 8 to present aperiodic report summary of a user's current net worth. In this example,both assets and liabilities are graphically illustrated and color-codedto individual categories of assets or liability. It is important to noteherein, that data results presented in module 215 may be derived fromvirtually every online account accessible to a user through interface211. In one embodiment, the color-coded categories are interactive suchthat by clicking on them as hyperlinks sends a user to an appropriatesub-module wherein more detailed information is provided. Also in thisembodiment, by clicking on one of the graphics, a pop-up displaycontaining detailed report figures may be displayed. It is also notedherein, that all of the listed sub-modules 213-229 have interactivenavigation arrows installed on their faces, the arrows providingnavigation to more detailed levels of data which are displayed insecondary interfaces associated with the main module invoked. Moredetail regarding Net Worth module 215 is provided later in thisspecification.

[0183] Bill Payment module 217 informs a user, in this example, that heor she currently has 8 bills due within the next 15 days. By clicking onthe provided navigation arrow, a more detailed account listing each billby entity and account number and due date may be presented in asecondary interface associated with module 217. In this aspect, it isnoted that the payment module 217 is interlinked with Calendar module219 and may share overlapping data.

[0184] Calendar module 219 provides first, a summary of items to occuron the day accessed and items related to calendar events within thecurrent running week. By clicking on the navigation arrow provided, asecondary interface is served containing a more detailed calendardisplay. More detail about Calendar module 219 will be provided later inthis specification.

[0185] Transaction Center module 221 informs a user of new transactionsoccurring since the last time of access. In this case there are twelvenew transactions noted. A maximum activity item is displayed on the faceof Transaction Center module 221 and related to a particular account, inthis case, a MasterCard™ account that has seen the most transactionactivity during a pre-configured timeframe, or since the last time ofaccess. Also shown on the face of Transaction Center module 221, is asection listing last transactions. In this action, there are twotransactions listed. A debit transaction is listed including an accountprovider and account number, the amount of the transaction, and the dateof the transaction. A credit transaction is listed that includes thesame account, amount, and date parameters of the debit transaction. Byclicking on the navigation arrow provided on the face of TransactionCenter module 221, a user may navigate to a secondary interfaceproviding additional detail. More detail about Transaction Center module221 will be provided later in this specification.

[0186] Communications module 223 alerts a user, in this case, of aquantity of new e-mails. In this case, there are fifteen new e-mailslisted. In one embodiment the fifteen e-mails listed may be generic toone e-mail account. In another embodiment, the fifteen e-mails listedmay source from various accounts. By clicking on the navigation arrow onCommunications module 223, a secondary interface will appear containinglisted accounts. By clicking on one of the accounts listed, a user mayinvoke that particular e-mail interface and receive any associatede-mails through that interface. If only one e-mail account is configuredto Communications module 223, then clicking on the navigation arrow willsimply bring up that account software.

[0187] Account Bookmarks module 225 provides a list of URLs to a user'sregistered accounts along with a date listing the last time each accountwas accessed. By clicking on the navigation arrow provided on the faceof Account Bookmarks module 225, a user may invoke the secondaryinterface containing a more detailed rendering of account data.

[0188] Portfolio Tracker module 227 provides a summary view of thelatest activity regarding a user's chosen stock symbols. Module 227 alsoprovides a current summary regarding the top five stocks, in thisexample, contained in a user's stock portfolio. By clicking on thenavigation arrow provided on the face of Tracker module 227, a user mayinvoke the secondary interface rendering much more detail. Similarly,clicking on any of the listed stock symbols may invoke the secondaryinterface dedicated to that particular symbol, the interface containingmuch more information.

[0189] Travel Planner module 229 provides a tool for a user to invokewhen it is desired to create travel plans. By clicking on the navigationarrow provided on the face of the interface, a user may invoke asecondary interface containing a configuration utility for ordering andsubmitting tasks related to purchasing airline tickets, booking a hotelroom, arranging a car rental, and any other travel related tasks. It isnoted herein, that secondary interfaces associated with theabove-described modules are, in many embodiments, utilities wherein auser may create and submit requests for task performance related to theclass of data covered by a particular module. In a preferred embodiment,such utility tools enable proxy performance of online tasks. Still,hyperlinks to actual web sites may also be provided such that a user maynavigate to and manually perform a task at the actual site invoked.

[0190] It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that interface211 and associated modules 213-229 may be provided of a different lookand feel as well as of differing content and data classification withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The uniquecapability loaded into interface 211 of enabling performance of variousproxy tasks, integrating solution-oriented data between more than onemodule of interface 211, and providing site-access to associated sitesthrough multiple points of entry represents a level of novelty not knownin current-art or prior-art interfaces. Furthermore, the unique proxycapabilities performed by the data compilation, aggregation, and summarysystem, known to the inventor, are fully accessible through interface211 providing a level of user-friendliness heretofore not known in theart.

[0191]FIG. 12 is an exemplary screen shot of a secondary interface 231invoked as a result of user interaction with module 219 of FIG. 11according to an embodiment of the present invention. Secondary interface23 is a detailed calendar utility accessible by invoking Calendar module219 described in FIG. 11 above. Interface 231 is interactive accordingto a variety of provided options.

[0192] A resolution toolbar 235 is provided within interface 231 andadapted to enable a user to view various calendar resolutions of day,week, month, and year. In this example, interface 231 is displaying dataassociated with a particular calendar week (Jul. 18-24, 2000) asindicated.

[0193] A time-sensitive calendar bookmark window 237 is provided withininterface 231 and adapted to show the current day of the current monthof the current year. An interactive ad button 239 is provided withininterface 231 and adapted to enable a user to enter a new calendar itemsuch as an appointment, task, or other pending item. By invoking adbutton 239, an interactive utility (not shown) for making calendaradditions appears. Such utility contains all of the required fields anddialog options necessary for making correct calendar additions for laterdisplay within interface 231.

[0194] A show-item option window 241 is provided within interface 231and adapted to enable a user to select specific categories of calendarentries to view within interface 231. In this example, the categoriesauctions, shopping, travel, bills, banking, credit cards, andinvestments are listed within window 241. The only category not selectedfor view is the category of banking. Therefore, existing calendarentries for the remaining categories, which are selected, appear asvisible within interface 231. It is noted herein that calendar itemspertaining to all selected categories within window 241 are restrictedto items pending within the week of Jul. 18-24, 2000 as ordered by theoptions selected in resolution toolbar 235.

[0195] A summary view section 233 is provided within interface 231 anddetails actual pending calendar items existing within the time frame ofJul. 18-24, 2000 as ordered by window 241 and toolbar 235. In thisexample, the summary view lists the time and day of each pending itemalong with a summary description of each item. It is noted herein thattitles of entities associated to each pending item listed in section 233are interactive in that by clicking on them, further detail about thepending item is displayed.

[0196] Calendar interface 231, in a preferred embodiment, iscross-linked with other modules such that data incorporated therein maybe affected by actions performed in other modules. For example, if auser pays a bill through the payment module 217 of FIG. 11, and thatparticular bill was listed as a pending calendar item within interface231, then the action of paying the bill through module 217 results inautomatic deletion of the appropriate item entry in interface 231. Suchinteroperability is achieved through backgroundapplication-program-interfacing (API) with database reporting engine 155of FIG. 8.

[0197]FIG. 13 is an exemplary screen shot of a secondary interface 243resulting from invocation of Transaction Center module 221 of FIG. 11according to an embodiment of the present invention. Interface 243 is aninteractive interface providing a more detailed summary view oftransaction data associated with a user's registered accounts. Interface243 may be thought of as an interactive utility that enables a user tocategorize all online transactions as well as off-line transactions intoa simple user interface. Interface 243 is both a summary reporting tooland a transaction entry utility.

[0198] It is noted herein that interface 243 is provided in the form ofan HTML interface. In this example, all of the described interfaces aredisplayed as HTML interfaces. However, this is not specifically requiredin order to practice the present invention. Interface 211 of FIG. 11 andall associated interface modules and secondary interfaces may beprovided using other markup languages and programming techniques.Furthermore, much tailoring may be provided in order to adapt suchinterfaces to display in accordance to rules and protocols of a varietyof data-access devices. For example, scaled-down versions for devicesthat use web clipper applications and many browsers can be provided.

[0199] Referring now back to FIG. 13, New Transactions Summary window245 is provided within secondary interface 243 and adapted to displayquantities of new transactions categorized to associated accounts. Newtransactions are identified, in this example, as any new transactionsthat have occurred since the last time of update or sense the last timeof user access of interface 243. There are four accounts listed by titlewith each account associated with the specific quantity of associatednew transactions discovered.

[0200] A scroll-down menu 247 is provided within secondary interface 243and adapted to list all of the user's registered accounts in aninteractive fashion such that selecting one of the items contained inmenu 247 invokes a transaction history report exemplified herein by ahistory window 249. Therefore, in this example there are fivetransactions associated with the selected account (Chase™ Visa™ Credit).In this example, the five detailed account transactions listed in window249 by the five new transactions reported for the same account in window245. It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that there may bemore registered accounts listed in menu 247 than are shown in summarywindow 245 without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. In this example, window 249 simply details new transactionsreported in window 245.

[0201] The above-described detail of the new transactions listed inwindow 249 includes date, description, amount of transaction, andcategory. A user using a scroll-down category menu containing a list ofcategory options may assign category detail associated with anytransaction. In this way, transactions may be uniformly categorized fortax and other organizational purposes. Action items are also reportedwithin history window 249 such as for deleting a transaction and fornotification that an e-mail regarding a specific transaction was sent toa certified-public-accountant (CPA) for tax or other'accountingpurposes.

[0202] Other interactive options provided within secondary interface 243include a manual delete option for manually deleting a transaction, andan archive access option for accessing archived transaction lists. Stillother options include CPA-notification option 251, a view-history option253, and a bill-payment option 255. Bill payment option 255 interlinkswith bill-payment module 217 of FIG. 117 which is a utility in enablinga user to perform online bill payment.

[0203] It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that interface243 may be provided of a different look, feel and function than thatwhich is illustrated herein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention. For example, Summary window 245 may be adaptedsimply to provide a pre-configured amount of latest transactions withoutregard to system update or user access. Similarly, Summary window 245may list all of a user's registered accounts and quantities of latesttransactions instead of just those having new transactions discoveredsince a last update. Moreover, transactional histories may be organizedand accessible according to account, transaction category, and the like.

[0204]FIG. 14 is an exemplary screen shot of a secondary interface 257resulting from invocation of Net Worth module 215 of FIG. 11. Interface257 provides a more detailed view of a net worth report summarized withgraphic pie charts on the face of module 215 of FIG. 11. In this view,the graphic pie charts of module 215 are visible within a providedgraphics window 259. Window 259 represents a display option such as wasdescribed with reference to FIG. 8 and options a database 173. Othertypes of graphical representation may be utilized other than the piecharts exemplified herein. In this example, in addition to the piecharts and associated total figures, which are also represented on theface of module 215 as a summary view, actual percentages of data makingup the charts are included. An Asset-Allocation window 264 is providedwithin interface 257 and adapted to list all of the data categoriesassociated with asset computation and their respective totals. ALiability Mix window 263 is provided within interface 257 and adapted tolist all of a user's personal financial liabilities considered inassessing a total liability. As can be seen in this example, Windows 264and 263 are simply report mechanisms reflecting more detail associatedwith the graphic representation illustrated in window 259.

[0205] Net Worth interface 257 is a unique reporting vehicle that isable to provide a user with up-to-date renditions of that user's currentnet worth. Such a tool enables a user to modify his or her transactionalbehavior so as to benefit his or her total Net Worth. An interactiveHistory button 265 is provided within interface 257 and adapted toenable a user to view net worth history over a span of time. Such ahistory report may be presented in the form of a graph indicating valueon one axis and time on the other axis.

[0206] An interactive Financial Advice button 267 is provided withininterface 257 and adapted to enable a user to obtain financial advice inthe form of system recommendations and/or advice from a live financialconsultant having access to the user's portfolio and transactional data.An interactive Transfer Funds button 269 is provided within interface257 and adapted as a utility in enabling the user to engage in fundstransfer activity associated with registered accounts. It is notedherein that funds transfer activities initiated from invocation ofbutton 269 are assumed to be tasks that are performed by proxy. Althoughit is not illustrated in this example, invocation of Transfer Fundsbutton 269 provides an additional interface (not shown) that willcontain all of the necessary dialogue fields for facilitating transferof monies from one account to another. In one embodiment of the presentinvention invocation of Transfer Funds button 269 provides a list ofaccounts in the form of URLs. By clicking on these, a user may accessthose sites and perform manual transfer activities if so desired.

[0207] In one embodiment of the present invention, Net Worth module 215of FIG. 11 is cross-linked with other related modules such that activebill paying, online purchasing, and payment on loans is automaticallyincorporated into computations for net worth reporting. As was describedabove, solution-oriented results may be computed from and reported to avariety of the modules described in FIG. 11.

[0208]FIG. 15 is an exemplary screen shot of a Portfolio Tracker window271 resulting from invocation of Portfolio Tracker module 227 of FIG.11. Interface 271 provides a more detailed rendition of the summaryinformation reported on the face of module 227 of FIG. 11. Aconsolidated portfolio listing 273 is provided within interface 271 andconsists of a user's stock symbols, company names, quantities of sharesowned, price of individual shares, and estimated value total for eachcompany. In this example, a solution-oriented result reflecting asummation of all of the estimated values of all of the owned stock isprovided as a total position value.

[0209] An individual-holdings window 275 is provided within interface271 and adapted to enable a user to view individual stock or investmentholdings and also to navigate to actual sites maintaining the accountsas illustrated by the plurality of go buttons representing URLs. Anoptions window 279 is provided within interface 271 and adapted toenable a user to choose only the data that he or she desires to trackand view.

[0210] It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that interface211 as illustrated and described in this specification provides all ofthe mechanisms for ordering, viewing, and manipulating all aspects ofonline, and some cases off-line user data through a single userinterface accessible from an Internet-capable appliance. Data accessiblethrough interface 211 is, in one embodiment, updated each time a user ofthe interface logs in. In another embodiment, data accessible throughinterface 211 is updated, in addition, by request termed a refreshaction in the art. In still other embodiments, portions of the dataaccessible through interface 211 are updated by demand while otherportions may be updated periodically. Still other portions of dataaccessible through interface 211 are continually updated in real-time.There are many possibilities.

[0211] It will also be apparent to one with skill in the art thatinterface 211 and functional modules provided therein or accessedthereby may be interfaced to a database reporting engine such as engine155 of FIG. 8 by, for example, API methods, or to equivalent softwarefunctioning as database software resident on a machine having access tousers aggregated data.

Interactive Transaction Center Interface

[0212] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, aninteractive transaction center interface suite is provided and packagedto enable access to a multiplicity of data sources to provide detailedinformation, transaction capabilities, and direct account accesscapabilities.

[0213]FIG. 16 is an overview of a communications network 281 wherein anInternet portal system is practiced according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. This portal system, exemplified by specific equipmentgroupings and connection capabilities, is somewhat analogous to thecommunications network practicing an Internet portal system as describedin FIG. 1 of Ser. No. 09/208,740 referenced above in terms of basicarchitecture and software implementation.

[0214] Communications network 281 comprises basically an exemplary user,illustrated herein as operating a PC 283, an Internet access line 285,which connects user 283 to an illustrated Internet backbone 289, whichis illustrated as extending through the well-known Internet network 291represented in this embodiment as a cloud diagram 291. Furtherdescription will refer to user 283. Communications network 281, in thisembodiment, supports an Internet-service-provider (ISP not shown) inaddition to a unique network-portal capability, which will be describedfurther below.

[0215] User 283 is illustrated as a PC icon in this example, however insome embodiments, user 283 may access the portal system by means of anyInternet-capable device having a means for Internet access and displaycapabilities.

[0216] Internet access line 285 may be a normal telephone line, anintegrated-services-digital-network (ISDN) line, a digital subscriberline (DSL) or other well-known connection mediums including wirelessmediums. An ISP access architecture is described as a preferred means ofInternet access solely because of its commonality in the art. Apublic-switched-telephony-network (PSTN) may be assumed to be thenetwork through which user 283 accesses backbone 289. Backbone 289represents all of the lines, equipment, and connection points making upthe Internet network as a whole. Therefore, there are no geographiclimits to the practice of the present invention.

[0217] A service provider 293 is illustrated within Internet cloud 291.Service provider 293 in this embodiment comprises a navigation server295 and a portal server 297. Service provider 293 represents an entityproviding data procurement, aggregation, and summary services ofpersonal on-line data subscribed to by users. User 283, in this example,represents one such user subscribing to services provided throughservice provider 293.

[0218] Navigation server 295 is a unique information-source navigationserver adapted for the purpose of navigation to particular and/ordesignated destinations on behalf of users. Portal server 297 hosts aunique subscription service as an Internet portal through which usersmay order a wider variety of data procurement aggregation and summaryservices. Portal server 297 maintains all necessary passwords, usernames, and user profile data for the purpose of enabling proxy services.Therefore, a data repository for storing such information may be assumedto be present as was exemplified in FIG. 7 above regarding datarepository 157. Moreover, portal server 297 is analogous to the portalinterface 153 of FIG. 7. Navigation server 295 may be assumed to beanalogous to the gathering subsystem (GSS) 159 of FIG. 7.

[0219] Network 29 1, in addition to comprising service provider 293,also comprises a plurality of file servers located outside of the domainof provider 293. These servers are exemplified as a financialinstitution server 299, a utility company server 301, and an insurancecompany server 303. Servers 299-303 represent customer access pointswithin Internet 291 through which user 283 may access services. Forexample, user 283 may have one or more financial accounts accessiblethrough server 299. User 283 may have an on-line utility accountmaintained by server 301. User 283 may be assumed to have one or moreinsurance policies accessible through server 303. It should be notedherein, that the examples cited immediately above do not in any waylimit the type, location, or number of information sources that areavailable to be accessed within the scope of the present invention aspracticed on the internet. Internet network 291 is representative of apreferred use of the present invention, but should not be consideredlimiting, as the invention could apply in other types of networks andcombinations of networks.

[0220] As taught by disclosure and example with reference to theapplications listed in the cross-reference section of the specification,user 283 may access Internet 291 by way to access line 285 and backbone289 and then engage in a data session with portal server 297 for thepurpose of ordering a wide variety of tasks to be performed with respectto his or her personal data available in servers 299-303. Portal server297 in cooperation with navigation server 295 enables user 283 to managevarious aspects of his or her personal data held in servers 299-303without requiring user 283 to physically navigate to servers 299-303.The unique software suite described in the background section may beassumed in this example to be installed on portal server 297 andavailable to user 283 upon connection thereto. By virtue of thedescribed enhancement including interactive interface capability, a widearray of data management and task performance possibilities exist.

[0221] This specification focuses on a modular portion of the abovedescribed software suite termed a transaction center interface by theinventor. Therefore it may be assumed in this example that theabove-described software suite, more specifically the transaction centermodule of that suite is displayed in the form of a personalized userinterface on the device employed by user 283 to access portal server297, which in this case is a PC. More detail regarding the innovativefunction of the transaction center module of the present invention isprovided below.

[0222]FIG. 17 is an exemplary screen shot of a personalized interactiveinterface suite 305 including a transaction center module 306 accordingto embodiment of the present invention. Interface suite 305 is analogousto the interface suite 211 illustrated in FIG. 11 above. Transactioncenter module 306 is analogous to the module 211 in the same figure.Transaction module 306 is adapted to enable proxy collection and displayof a multiplicity of subjects and for enabling multi-point transactionsof personal accounts according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0223] Transaction module 306 has a text summary on its face as well asinteractive icons, illustrated herein as a View Transactions icon 307and a Transfer Funds icon 309. By interacting with icons 307 and 309,which are HTML links in this example, a multiplicity of sub-interfacesrelated specifically to activities and history of financial relatedon-line accounts held by the interacting user (283) may be accessed. Ina preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main interface oftransaction module 306 is presented in HTML. Similarly, secondary orsub-interfaces accessible through interaction with HTML links 307 and309 are also HTML interfaces. However, the should not be construed as alimitation to the practice the present invention as other Web-baseddescriptor and markup languages may be provided with versions usable onvarying types of access devices. The example of HTML simply serves as astandard operating protocol for example of access through anInternet-connected PC as is the case with user 283.

[0224] Transaction module 306 provides information obtained fromdestination sources related to the number and status of financialtransactions performed by a user subscribing to the data. In thisexemplary interface there are twelve new transactions noted asillustrated in a summary line item labeled New Transactions. A MaximumActivity notification is listed immediately under New Transactions, andindicates that a major credit card account that has been subjected tothe most transaction activity during a preestablished timeframe or sincethe last time of update of the transaction center module.

[0225] A Last Transactions section is illustrated within module 306 andlisted therein is a debit entry to a major banking institution and acredit entry to a on-line brokerage firm with the respective cashamounts and dates for those transactions. The text summaries illustratedon the face of module 306 are assumed in this example to be ordered bythe requesting user through pre-configuration to display at time oflog-in. It is noted herein that there may be many varying descriptionsand orders of summary data appearing on the face of module 306.

[0226] In the present embodiment, module 306 has at least two embeddedinteractive links as previously described, these being View Transactions307 and Transfer Funds 309. By interacting with View Transactions link307 on the face of the Transactions Center module 306, a user may accessmore detailed information about any one or all transactions availablefor viewing. By interacting with Transfer Funds link 309 on the face ofmodule 306, a user may engage in funds transfer activities associatedwith registered accounts. It is noted herein that funds transferactivities initiated from invocation of the Transfer Funds link areassumed to be tasks that are performed by proxy. Although it is notillustrated in this example, invocation of the Transfer Funds linkprovides an additional interface (not shown) that will contain all ofthe necessary dialogue fields for facilitating transfer of monies fromone account to another. Similarly, a secondary interface appears uponinvocation of link 307.

[0227] It will be apparent to one with skill in the art, that textsummary information as well as embedded links 307 and 309 may vary indisplayed location within module 306 without departing from the spiritand scope the present invention. It will also be apparent that there maybe more interactive links and more categories of text summary configuredto appear on the face of module 306 at time of log in without departingfrom the spirit and scope the present invention. For example, the usermay configure additional summary information and categories as well as,perhaps, ordering one or more additional interactive links to beprovided with the initial summary interface (module 306). In thisregard, the real estate that module 306 commands with an interface suite305 may vary accordingly.

[0228]FIG. 18 is an exemplary screen shot of the Transaction Centercaused to display through interaction with View Transactions button 307of FIG. 17. Transaction center interface 243 represents a secondaryinterface providing a more detailed view of transactions as well asadditional interactive options. In general, transaction center 243enables a user to categorize completed credit card transactions, bankingtransactions, funds transfers, and person-to-person transactions, andpotentially other transactions as well.

[0229] An accessing user can view and chart categorized transactionhistories over user-specified time periods. In this example center 243displays a default view illustrating a summary of new transactions (NewTransaction Summary) and an all-accounts view of new transactions (NewTransactions: All Accounts).

[0230] The New Transaction Summary window located furthest left withininterface 243 simply provides a more detailed summary of the twelvetransactions noted on the face of module 306 and FIG. 17. The NewTransactions window located adjacent to the summary window and to theright provides individual line items having various data aspectspresented in column form. Reading from left to right there is a columnfor the Date of each line item, a column for Description of each lineitem, a column specifying a debit Account for each line item, and acolumn specifying the Amount of each transaction.

[0231] An additional section is provided within interface 243 andlabeled Category. This section comprises a plurality of drop-down menuslisting a plurality of transactions category options. These defaultcategories are intelligent, in that transactions are automaticallycategorized with an appropriate category as they occur and are enteredunder the appropriate category based on a user's prior categorizationscheme. It is noted herein that a user may arbitrarily change a categoryassociated with any line item by simply interacting with the drop-downmenus such as menu 315, and selecting an alternate category. Wheretransactions cannot be categorized automatically, they are listeduncategorized in the default mode. Basic transaction categories mayinclude, but will not necessarily be limited to, Uncategorized, Income,and Expenses. The income category may include, but will not necessarilybe limited to: Salary, Bonuses, Dividends, Gifts, Interest income,Investment income, Other income, and Tax refunds. The expenses categorymay include, but will not necessarily be limited to: Auto, Bank, Cash,Charity, Clothing, Dining, Education, Entertainment, Gift, Groceries,Household, Insurance, Interest, IRA contribution, Medical,Miscellaneous, Recreation, Rent, Subscription, Taxes, Utility, andVacation. By selecting one of the basic categories, transactions aresorted and displayed according to that category. By selecting one of thesubcategories associated with the basic category, transactions aresorted and displayed according to that subcategory.

[0232] In the New Accounts Summary window there are indicated 12 newtransactions having occurred on all accounts as previously described.Those accounts are listed below the 12 new transactions labeled and arenoted as five new transactions on a major banking institute credit card,three new transactions on a major bank savings account, two newtransactions on a checking account at that same major bank, and two newtransactions with an on-line brokerage firm. The entries in the NewTransactions Summary are interactive entries that upon interaction takethe user to another view or secondary interface. For example, if a userclicks on one of the interactive accounts listed in New Transactions,all transactions specific to the selection are displayed and listed inchronological order with the newest transactions at the bottom of thelist. The metamorphosis just described occurs within the newtransactions window. Therefore, the new transactions window acts as aresults interface capable of alternate displays according to userselection.

[0233] It is noted herein that “new transactions” are those transactionsnot yet viewed. Once a transaction has been viewed, it is moved to aTransaction History page (not shown) details of which are provided laterin this specification. In the New Transactions: All Accounts window theindividual transactions include the date, description, account, amount,and category of each individual transaction as previously describedabove. Transaction category display is tailored to the needs of a userthrough selection of one of the navigation arrows 315 for majorgroupings of subjects represented in this embodiment by Food andBeverage, Utilities, Home, Auto, and Charitable Organizations.

[0234] There are three functional links displayed on the face ofinterface 243. A Save Categories function 317 allows a user to selectcategories related to specific accounts and save them to be accessed asnew transactions occur. In one embodiment, a user may specificallycreate categories for certain types of transactions. When newtransactions occur, they are automatically categorized according to userpreference. In a preferred embodiment however, most transactions can beassociated by default with one of the plurality of default categoriesavailable.

[0235] A transaction history function 319 is provided within interface243 and adapted to enable a user to gain access to a secondaryinterface, which provides an uncategorized detailed history oftransactions. In this mode, the user also has the ability to viewtransactions in a multiplicity of combinations of accounts, timeframes,and categories. A bill payment function 321 is provided within interface243 and adapted to enable a user to access the Bill Payment moduledepicted in FIG. 11 and in FIG. 17. It is noted herein, and has beenpreviously described, that the individual account entries displayed onthe face of the New Transactions: All Accounts window are interactive,such that by selecting any one of the individual accounts, a secondaryinterface is accessed that will display all transactions associated withthe selected account.

[0236]FIG. 19 is an exemplary screen shot of a Transaction Center: OneAccount View 323 which is reached by clicking on any one of thedesignated accounts highlighted in the New Transactions: All Accountsfield of the Transaction Center—Default View 243 of FIG. 18. Interface323 displays two windows. A New Transaction Summary is the same summaryinformation displayed in the Default View (243) of FIG. 18. The secondwindow is labeled New Transactions and is specific to a single account,in this case a Chase™ Visa credit card account. The transactionalinformation displayed in the New Transactions window shows all the newtransactions related to the selected account. The window lists all thetransactions that have taken place within a prescribed time period orsince the last time a user has accessed the module.

[0237] In this example the account is for a major bank credit card asdescribed above and lists five transactions that have occurred over atime period of five days. The information displayed includes the date ofthe transaction, a description of the entity with whom the transactionwas made, the amount of the transaction, and the category associatedwith the transaction. This screen shot also includes the previouslydescribed function buttons Save Categories 317, Transaction History 319,and Bill Payment 321. It is noted herein that the purpose ofcategorization of all transactions can be used for all kinds ofaccounting purposes such as automated tax preparation, businessauditing, and for solution-oriented summary reports specific to one ormore category of transactions.

[0238]FIG. 20 is an exemplary screen shot of the Transaction Center:Transaction History/All Accounts interface 324 which is accessed byclicking on the Transaction History button 319 FIG. 18 or FIG. 19.Transaction History interface 324 is a secondary interface that providesan expanded view of all transactions that have occurred over adesignated and selectable period of time of a user's on-linetransactional activity. The default display for interface 324 includesall transactions listed in chronological order for all registeredaccounts. In this example interface 324 includes three interactivedrop-down menus through which a user may choose to view historiesassociated with selected options. Account menu 325 includes all theaccounts that a user has included in his or her accounts managementprofile. Timeframe menu 327 enables a user to select a history timeperiod in graduated increments of YTD (Year to Date), this month, last 3months, last 6 months, last 12 months, and all history. It is notedherein that options for viewing all history and Last 3 months are notillustrated within timeframe window 327, but may be assumed to bepresent. Moreover, there may be many more timeframes for selectionwithin menu 327 that are illustrated without departing from the spiritand scope the present invention. Furthermore, a user may, throughpre-configuration, create specific and personalized timeframes forviewing transactional history.

[0239] Menu 329 enables a user to select a specific category oftransactions to view in a transaction-history format. Selectable optionswithin menu 329 include but are not limited to a chronological view,view by category, and further options include each individual categorythat a user has included in his or her accounts management profile. Itis noted herein that any selection made with respect to windows 325-329causes an immediate display of an associated history list in atransaction history window located just below the described menus.Through selecting various entries in the above-described interactivemenus, one is able to view the transaction histories in a multiplicityof combinations of accounts, time periods, and categories. Once a userhas selected an entry in any one of menus 325-329, an interactivedisplay function 331 enables refreshing the transaction history listdisplayed in the all accounts window according to the format dictated bythe option selected.

[0240] In this example, the transaction window lists all usertransactions chronologically and displays the date, description,category, account, and amount of the transactions. At the bottom of thetransaction listing within the transaction history window is anaccumulated expenses total of the transactions displayed. TheTransaction History/All Accounts screen shot includes scroll button atthe bottom of the screen that allows the user to page to the next screenor return to the previous screen in order to view all transactions overa given time period of the history of the account management. Thisexample includes an Edit Categories function 335 by which a user mayedit the all accounts, chronological, and all history default pages tosuit the needs of the user. An additional feature in this example isprovided in the form of an interactive function enabling a user to chartresults. An icon 333 labeled Chart It enables this function. Chart Itfunction 333, once invoked, enables a user to view solution-orientedcharts detailing transactions in a chart form rather than the tabularform as displayed herein. More detail regarding the function of thechart feature 333 is provided later in this specification.

[0241]FIG. 21 is an exemplary view of an interface that displaysTransaction History/All Accounts—by category: YTD 337. This exampleincludes all of the elements and functions thereof described in FIG. 20above. The transactions listed in the transaction history window in thisexample are formatted differently than those listed in the transactionhistory of interface 324 of FIG. 20. In this example, transactions ofall user accounts are presented by category. This presentation format isachieved by selecting the All Accounts option in menu 325, the ByCategory option in menu 329, the YTD option in sub-module 327, and thaninvoking Display button 321. The data displayed in the transactionhistory window is formatted according to all three selections as isillustrated in this example.

[0242] In a preferred embodiment, many combinations of displayableformats are achievable according to variable selection performed withregard to menus 325-329. For example, by selecting All Accounts in menu325, last 6 months in menu 327, Auto in menu 329, and then invokingDisplay button 321, the data presented in the transaction window wouldreflect only the first two line items currently displayed. Through theselection of any number of combinations of entries in the threedrop-down menus, a user is able to format the data presented in thetransaction history window in a manner that specifically suits theuser's needs. In this example, transactions displayed by category in thetransaction history window are supplemented with a total dollar amountby category reported beneath each category. Similarly a YTD expensetotal is calculated and provided at the bottom of the window. As notedabove, Edit Categories button 335 located at the bottom of thetransaction history window enables a user to tailor the categories fordesired interaction with the accounts selected.

[0243]FIG. 22 is an exemplary screen shot of a Transaction History/BarGraph 339 displayed as a result of user interaction with Chart It icon333 of FIGS. 20 and 21. It is noted herein that the bar graphillustrated in this example appears within the real estate occupied bythe transaction history window described in interfaces 324 and 337 ofFIGS. 20 and 21 respectively. In one embodiment, only thetransaction-window of the described interfaces actually refreshes withnew data in the fashion of a results window. However, different elementnumbers are applied to each represented interface to illustrate a newinterface having new data displayed therein as may also be the case insome embodiments.

[0244] Interface 339 retains elements 325-329 and icon 341 described inearlier interfaces. In this example, the bar chart represents datacalculated and displayed in bar sections representing transaction totalsof all accounts, by month, over the last four months. Colors may beused, and the colors used are keyed in a display beside the bar graph.The bar chart representation may be displayed in any of the multiplicityof combinations of selected options available from the three drop-downmenus, 325, 327, and 329. It is noted herein that a user may order chartcalculation and preparation through previously described icon 333.Display graph icon 341 is intended, in this example, to refresh a samechart configuration that is altered by changes in option section asperformed by a user with respect to the options listed in drop-downmenus 325-329.

[0245] By selecting options in one or more of drop-down menus 325-329,and then invoking display graph icon 341, the real estate of the barchart area is refreshed and displays a revised bar chart of the samegeneral description indicating the selections of the user. For example,selection combinations may include the last six months of auto expensespaid from all accounts, this month's entertainment expenses paid from aspecific bank checking account, or perhaps, the last 12 month's expensespaid from a major credit card for entertainment. An interactive Closeicon is provided at the bottom of interface 339 to enable closing ofinterface 339 upon user invocation thereof.

[0246]FIG. 23 is an exemplary screen shot of a Transaction History/LineGraph interface 343. It is noted herein and was described above, that ina preferred embodiment interaction with Chart It icon 333 of FIG. 21enables chart calculation and preparation according to a generalgraphics format chosen by a user. Instead of a bar chart, this exampleillustrates a line graph as a pre-configured choice of graphics display.Within interface 343, the exemplary line graph illustrates data showinga plotted transaction total of entertainment transactions plotted bymonth with the totals of 4 months visible. As described above withrespect to FIG. 22, the chart display may be modified by selecting anyone of the combinations of options provided in the three drop-down menus325, 327, and 329 and then invoking display graph icon 341. Such dataalterations may reflect user choices to display the transaction totalsof a major credit card, a bank checking or savings account, or any ofthe other listed accounts specified to be included in account managementcapability. In the same manner just-described, options may be selectedto cause display of a line graph of auto expenses over time, charitableexpenses for the last 12 months, food and beverage over the last sixmonths, or any other selectable combinations that may be displayed as aline graph.

[0247] It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that thetransaction center module of FIG. 17 as illustrated and described inthis specification provides all the mechanisms for summarizing,tracking, categorizing, listing, and charting any and all transactionsdesignated by a user to be included in the accounts managementfunctionality of a single user interface accessible from anInternet-capable appliance. The information and history provided throughthe transaction center module of the present invention is updated andavailable to the user each time the user accesses the module andoperates through the various secondary interfaces described. In variousembodiments, data viewable through the transaction center module isupdated by a request-refresh action, through on-demand ordering, throughperiodic push of data and in real time as transactions occur and aredetected. There are many and varied possibilities.

[0248] It will also be apparent to one with skill in the art that thetransaction center module and functional sub-interface accessibletherefrom may be interfaced with a database reporting engine such asengine 155 of FIG. 8 by API or other methods, or to equivalent softwarefunctioning as database software resident on a machine having access touser's aggregated data and account information.

[0249] The method and apparatus of the present invention may bepracticed via private individuals on the Internet, businesses operatingon a WAN connected to the Internet, businesses operating via privateWAN, and so on. There are many customizable situations. The presentinvention as taught herein and above should be afforded the broadest ofscope. The spirit and scope of the present invention is limited only bythe claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a software suite for enabling viewing andmanipulation of multiple categories of aggregated data compiled from aplurality of data sources and accessible through a single interfacingnode operated on a data-packet-network, a transaction module having adisplayable summary interface comprising: an interactive main interfaceaccessible through the summary interface, the main interface for listingnew transactions related to registered financial accounts; aninteractive history link embedded in the main interface for providingaccess to a secondary interface for viewing transaction history; aninteractive menu provided within the main interface for assigningcategories to the listed transactions; an interactive save feature forsaving category assignments to the listed transactions; a interactivebill-payment link provided within the main interface for linking theinterface to a bill-payment module; and an interactive transfer-fundslink provided within the summary interface of the module for linking thesummary face of the module to a secondary interface for transferringfunds from one account to another, characterized in that a useroperating the main interface from a remote node having access to thedata-packet-network may view all transactions according to option ofcategory, account, and time period.
 2. The transaction module of claim1, wherein the data-packet-network is the Internet network.
 3. Thetransaction module of claim 2, wherein the plurality of data sources areservices accessible over the Internet and subscribed to by the operatinguser.
 4. The transaction module of claim 3, wherein the accessibleservices are hosted in file servers addressed on the Internet network.5. The transaction module of claim 4, wherein the remote node is apersonal computer with accessibility to the Internet.
 6. The transactionmodule of claim 5, wherein the summary, main and secondary interfacesare provided in the form of hyper-text-markup-language.
 7. Thetransaction module of claim 4, wherein the remote node is a cellulartelephone with accessibility to the Internet.
 8. The transaction moduleof claim 4, wherein the remote node is a hand-held computer withaccessibility to the Internet.
 9. The transaction module of claim 4,wherein the interactive menu within the main interface contains aselectable list of transaction categories including food and beverage,utilities, home, auto, charitable contribution, and entertainment. 10.The transaction module of claim 9, wherein the secondary interfaceinvoked from the interactive history link contains a plurality ofinteractive menus, the menus containing selectable options forcategorical viewing of transaction history.
 11. The transaction moduleof claim 10, wherein the selectable options enable viewing transactionsby a specific account, a specified timeframe, and by a selectedcategory, the options selectable for ordering combinations of criteriafor producing a transaction view.
 12. The transaction module of claim10, further comprising a charting feature for rendering a transactionalview in the form of a graphics chart.
 13. The transaction module ofclaim 11, wherein the graphics chart ordered and displayed is alterableby changing selection of options within the plurality of interactivemenus in the secondary interface and refreshing the interface.
 14. Aninteractive transaction viewing system for enabling online viewing ofitemized transactions performed across disparate on-line accounts andservices over a data-packet-network comprising: a first server nodeconnected to the network, the server node providing aservice-access-point for accessing users; a second server node connectedto the network and accessible to the first server node, the secondserver node providing automated navigation, data procurement, and dataaggregation on behalf of the accessing users; a plurality of servernodes connected to the network and accessible to the second server node,the server node functioning as data sources for the data procurement andaggregation; and a transaction viewing software interface installed onthe first server node, the interface accessible to the accessing usersconnected to the network by respective remote computer nodes,characterized in that users accessing the first server node from theremote computer nodes interact with the transaction viewing interfacefor the purpose of viewing transactions according to ordered categoryand graphical presentation option, the transactions entered manually ordetected automatically through system update and or user request, thetransaction compiled and aggregated by proxy using cooperative functionsof the first and second server nodes.
 15. The interactivetransaction-viewing system of claim 14, wherein the data-packet-networkis the Internet network.
 16. The interactive transaction-viewing systemof claim 15, wherein the first server node is a portal server providinga personalized interfaces of the form of hyper-text-markup-languageinterfaces.
 17. The interactive transaction-viewing system of claim 16,wherein the on-line accounts and services are accessible over theInternet and subscribed to by the accessing users.
 18. The interactivetransaction-viewing system of claim 17, wherein the remote computernodes are personal computers with accessibility to the Internet.
 19. Theinteractive transaction-viewing system of claim 17, wherein the remotecomputer nodes are cellular telephones with accessibility to Internet.20. The interactive transaction-viewing system of claim 17, wherein theremote computer nodes are hand-held computers with accessibility to theInternet.
 21. The interactive transaction-viewing system of claim 17,wherein the second server node stores aggregated data in a connecteddata repository held externally from the server.
 22. The interactivetransaction-viewing system of claim 21, wherein the transaction-viewingsoftware interface is linked to at least one secondary interfaceprovided in the form of hyper-text-markup-language.
 23. The transactionviewing system of claim 22, wherein an interactive menu is accessiblefrom within the transaction viewing interface, the menu containing aselectable list of transaction categories including food and beverage,utilities, home, auto, charitable contribution, and entertainment, eachcategory assignable to a selected transaction listed in the interface,the assignments savable to the system.
 24. The transaction viewingsystem of claim 23, wherein a secondary interface accessible frominteraction in the main interface contains a plurality of interactivemenus, the menus containing selectable options for categorical viewingof transaction history.
 25. The transaction-viewing system of claim 24,wherein the selectable options enable viewing transactions by a specificaccount, a specified timeframe, and by a selected category, the optionsselectable for ordering combinations of criteria for producing atransaction view, the transaction view comprising an ordered historyview.
 26. The transaction-viewing system of claim 25, further comprisinga charting feature associated with the selectable options, the chartingfeature for rendering a transactional view in the form of a graphicschart.
 27. The transaction-viewing system of claim 26, wherein thegraphics chart ordered and displayed is alterable by changing selectionof options within the plurality of interactive menus in the secondaryinterface and refreshing the interface.
 28. A method for ordering andviewing transaction data presented in an interactive transaction-viewinginterface accessible through a data-packet-network comprising the stepsof: (a) accessing an interactive transaction-viewing interface from aremote node connected to the network; (b) selecting a categoricalcriteria for viewing transactions from one or more interactive menusaccessible through the interface; (c) submitting the categoricalcriteria, the criteria used to calculate and render the transactiondata; and (d) viewing the resulting display of transaction data.
 29. Themethod of claim 28, wherein the data-packet-network is the Internetnetwork.
 30. The method of claim 29 wherein in step (a), the interactivetransaction-viewing interface is a personalizedhyper-text-markup-language interface served by a portal server connectedto the network.
 31. The method of claim 30 wherein in step (a), theremote node is a personal computer with accessibility to the network.32. The method of claim 29 wherein in step (a), the remote node is acellular telephone with accessibility to the network.
 33. The method ofclaim 29 wherein in step (a), the remote node is a hand-held computerwith accessibility to the network.
 34. The method of claim 29 wherein instep (b), the categorical criteria for viewing transactions includeaccount, timeframe, and by category including food and beverage,utilities, home, auto, charitable contribution, and entertainment. 35.The method of claim 34 wherein in step (b), an additional option ispresented for ordering a graphic chart according to the selectedcriteria.